Missouri Western (5-6, 1-3) at Nebraska-Kearney (8-3, 4-1)
Monday, Jan. 5 - 7:30 p.m. - Health & Sports Center - Kearney, Neb. 
 

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ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - Missouri Western Men's Basketball opens the week on the road at Nebraska-Kearney before returning home for a three-game homestand. The 5-6 Griffons face a Lopers team that sits second in the MIAA standings after a win on Saturday against defending national champion and No. 8 ranked Central Missouri. 

THE GRIFFONS
Missouri Western is looking for their first true road win since defeating Lincoln, 82-65, last February. The Griffons have dropped five straight on the road and are just 1-15 in road games dating back to the beginning of last season. MWSU struggled offensively in their last game at Washburn on Saturday. MWSU scored just 18 first half points on the way to a 60-85 loss. 

The Griffons are in danger of being outscored by opponents on the season. MWSU averages 70.5 points per game while allowing 70.2. From the field, the team is shooting 43 percent. They hold a slim, 1.4 rebounds per game average as a team, hauling in 36 per contest. Cortrez Colbert's 12.6 points per game lead the team. He is followed by Kevin Thomas' 9 points per game. Thomas also leads the team with 5.5 rebounds per game.

UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA-KEARNEY LOPERS
Nebraska-Kearney sits second in the MIAA, carrying an 8-3 overall record with a 4-1 mark in MIAA play, which is tied for the best record in the conference. The Lopers handed defending national champion, No. 8 Central Missouri, their second loss of the season Saturday, 65-64. 

Three players average double-digit scoring, with Ethan Brozek's 19.8 points per game leading the Lopers. Connor Beranek averages 17.4 per game and Trey Lansman is scoring 10.1 points off the bench. Brozek also leads his team with 8.2 rebounds per game and 16 steals this season. 

The Lopers are shooting 50 percent from the field, 39 percent from three-point range and 76 percent at the free throw line while averaging 80 points per game.

LAST YEAR'S MEETING
MWSU 89, UNK 82 at St. Joseph, Mo. on Jan. 6, 2014
Ryan Devers scored a career-high 35 points and led Missouri Western to a 89-82 win against Nebraska-Kearney Monday night at MWSU Fieldhouse. Devers' career high went alongside  six assists to lead the team. The Lopers were led by Mike Dentlinger, who had 25 points.