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ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - Missouri Western Men's Basketball returns to action Saturday with the final home game of January. 

THE GRIFFONS
The Griffons return to play after a seven-day break, following a memorable, comeback win at Southwest Baptist on Jan. 17. MWSU overcame an 18-point second half deficit to win by one on Aaron Emmanuel's layup with five seconds remaining. 

Missouri Western is 6-3 at home but have lost two straight and three of their last four in the MWSU Fieldhouse. Cortrez Colbert continues to pace the Griffons scoring, averaging 14.6 points per game. The senior guard is averaging 18.6 points in MIAA games, has scored double-digits in 10 straight games and topped 20 points in five of the last eight games. Cole Clearman has also stepped up his play since the MIAA slate began. The freshman is averaging 9.1 points on the season but more than 10 in MIAA games. Clearman also leads the team with 31 made three-pointers.  

MISSOURI SOUTHERN LIONS
Missouri Southern became the latest team to slow Northwest Missouri State's hot streak. The Lions handed Northwest their second straight loss with a 77-65 win in Joplin Wednesday night. It was the team's second straight win and the fourth in their last five games. 

The Lions are averaging 79 points per game, while allowing 72 and shoot 46 percent from the field, 37 percent from three-point range and 75 percent at the free throw line. Taevaunn Prince is tops among four Missouri Southern players scoring double figures. Prince leads the team, averaging 15.8 per game. Lane Barlow adds 11.9 per and Cameron Cornelius and Austin Wright each average more than 10 per game. Wright's 50 made threes are the second most in the conference and Prince leads the team with seven rebounds per game.

THE SERIES
Missouri Southern has won the last four over Missouri Southern, closing the gap on Missouri Western's lead in the all-time series, 44-42. Home court has played a huge roll with MWSU holding a 33-12 advantage in games played in St. Joseph. Each coach will be looking for his first win against the opponent with Brett Weiberg 0-2 against Missouri Southern and Jeff Boschee facing MWSU for the first time as head coach of the Lions. 

LAST YEAR'S MEETINGS
01/25/14: MWSU 71, at MSSU 105
02/15/14: MSSU 78 at MWSU 60 

CENTENNIAL MOMENT
1994-95: Missouri Western Men's Basketball wins a school-record, 26 games on the way to a share of the MIAA regular season championship and the MIAA Tournament Championship. The team finished 26-5 and 13-3 in the MIAA, advancing to the NCAA South Central Regional semifinal. Darroll Wright, a 2014 MWSU Athletics Hall of Fame inductee, led the team with a 23 point per game average and was named third team NABC All-America. 

STUDENT-ATHLETE ACADEMIC HONORS
Saturday, Griffon Athletics  will honor the academic success of Griffon student-athletes from calendar year 2014. Student-athletes on the Athletics Director's Honor Roll 
(semester GPA of 3.0 or higher) will be recognized during halftime of the women's game, while those on the Dean's List (semester GPA of 3.5 or higher) and President's Honor Roll (4.0 semester GPA) will be recognized during halftime of the men's game.

MAKE-A-WISH SILENT AUCTION 
In conjunction with Honor's Day, the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee will be conducting a silent auction in the practice gym to raise funds for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.  Items include gift certificates to area businesses and restaurants, Griffon gear and more.