Missouri Western enters its second matchup of the season against the Mules having wrapped up a spot in the MIAA Tournament with seeding implications still on the line. The Griffons split a pair of games last week, downing Lincoln at home on Wednesday and falling at Northwest Missouri State on Saturday. 

Cortrez Colbert has been consistently impressive in his senior season. The guard leads the team, scoring 16.6 points per game overall and 19.6 per MIAA contest. He's scored double-digits in 18 consecutive games. His conference scoring average is second in the MIAA and he's fifth in the league overall. Kevin Thomas has increased his production over the last two weeks, now averaging 8.6 points and a team-high 6.2 rebounds per game. 

As a team, MWSU is shooting 43 percent from the field, 33 percent from three-point range and 68 percent at the free throw line. They score 67.4 points per game and allow 68.2. On the season, the Griffons are dead even with opponents in rebounds and assists. They do hold a +1.2 turover margin.

Winners of six in a row, the Mules are tied atop the MIAA standings. Last week, UCM avenged an earlier loss at Lindenwood with a win in Warrensburg on Wednesday and swept the season series from Southwest Baptist on Saturday. 

Rakeem Dickerson leads a group of six players averaging at least 8.7 points per game. Dickerson is the only player averaging double-digits at 12.3 per game. T.J. White's 6.3 rebounds per game are the most on the team. 

UCM outscores opponents by 7.6 points per game (74.3-66.7). The Mules are shooting 50 percent from the field, 41 percent from three-point range and 66 percent at the free throw line. 

Trailing by two at the half, Central Missouri opened the second half on a 6-0 run and MWSU was never able to pull within one of the Mules. A Cortrez Colbert jumper pulled the Griffons within striking distance, 41-40, with 8:44 to go but the Mules scored the next nine and never looked back.

THE SERIES

Central Missouri has won the last six against Missouri Western to take a 32-27 advantage in the all-time series. The Griffons are 8-17 all-time in Warrensburg and have not won their since 2011 when they took an overtime game, 95-91. Brett Weiberg is still in search of his first victory over the Mules. 

MIAA BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP TICKETS NOW ON SALE

Tickets for the MIAA Basketball Championship, March 5-8, at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City are on sale now in the Griffon Ticket Office.  The all-session pass, which includes all 14 games in Kansas City, is $50, with single session tickets available for $20 for adults and youth/students $5.  Men's quarterfinal action begins on Thursday 3/5 with women's quarterfinal action taking place on Friday 3/6.  The semifinals and championship games take place over the weekend. Tickets are cheaper if purchased from our office in advance and we have an allotment we must sell.  Brackets and game times will be determined at the end of the regular season.