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ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - For the second year in a row, the Missouri Western Men's Basketball team will begin MIAA Tournament play in Edmond, Oklahoma against Central Oklahoma. The 10th seeded Griffons and seventh seeded Bronchos will tip-off at 7 p.m., Monday in Edmond. Central Oklahoma won the only other meeting between the two teams this season, 62-57, on Dec. 20. 

THE GRIFFONS
Missouri Western ended the regular season on a high note, completing the season sweep of Southwest Baptist with a 71-58 victory. 

Cortrez Colbert scored double-digits for the 19th time in the last 20 games, Saturday against SBU. The senior leads the team, scoring 16.1 points per game and more than 18 per MIAA game. Kevin Thomas' production continues to improve. Thomas leads the team with 6.2 rebounds per game. 

MWSU finished the season averaging 66.5 points per game, 12th in the MIAA and giving up 67.6 (6th in the MIAA). The Griffons shot 43 percent from the field, 33 percent from three-point range and 67 percent at the free throw line this season. 

THE BRONCHOS
Central Oklahoma closed out the regular season on a four-game winning streak, finishing the season with a 74-69 win over Nebraska-Kearney. The Bronchos finished in a five-way tie for third place in the MIAA but sit as the seventh seed in the postseason tournament. 

Mahlon Jones leads the Bronchos, averaging 13.6 points per game and Philp Brown's 5.1 rebounds per contest are most on the team. UCO averages an MIAA-high, 79 points per game while giving up 71 per contest. 

GROUNDHOG DAY
It may just be the second MIAA Tournament meeting between these two teams, but it's the second in a row and the second straight in Edmond. Last year Central Oklahoma ended the Griffons season with a 94-57 victory. 

ALWAYS CLOSE
The Griffons fell by five to the Bronchos in their only other meeting this season. It was a pretty common final margin for MWSU. On average, just 1.1 points separate the 
Griffons and their opponents this season. Fourteen of the team's games were decided by nine points or less and 12 of those were by six points or less. The Griffons were 9-5 this season in games decided by single-digits, including three overtime wins. 

TOURNAMENT REGULARS
Missouri Western comes into this year's tournament with the third most all-time MIAA tournament wins and fourth most games. The Griffons are tied with Northwest Missouri State for the third most tournament championships with four each. MWSU is the only school among the top-four (Washburn, Central Missouri, MWSU, Northwest Missouri) in championships to have a winning record in championship games (4-3).

COMEBACK KIDS 
In all three of Missouri Western's road wins this season, the team trailed by double-digits in the second half. At Nebraska-Kearney, MWSU rallied from 11 down to win in overtime. Southwest Baptist had an 18-point lead over the Griffons early in the second half, but Missouri Western won that game by one in regulation. Lincoln buitl a 15-point second half lead before Missouri Western tied the game in regulation and won in overtime.