GAME PREVIEW
Missouri Western (5-9, 3-5 MIAA) vs. Northwest Missouri St. (9-4, 6-2 MIAA)
Saturday, Jan. 9 – 5:00 p.m. – St. Joseph, Mo. – MWSU Fieldhouse
 
LINKS
Live Stats | Live Audio | Live Video
MWSU Season Stats | MIAA Standings

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The Griffons look to claim their third straight victory as they take on rival Northwest Missouri St. on Saturday evening.

The Series
Missouri Western trails the all-time series 46-35 and has lost five straight to the Bearcats. The Griffons last win came in 2013 at home, earning a 71-58 victory. The Griffons suffered a one point lost last year at home.

The Coaches
Brett Weiberg owns a 27-42 record at Missouri Western in his third year and has a career record of 166-147 in his 9^th overall season. Weiberg will look to claim his first victory against the Bearcats. Ben McCollum is the head coach for Northwest Missouri St. and has accumulated 123-68 overall record in his seven seasons.

Missouri Western

• Missouri Western has an overall record of 5-9, and 3-5 in MIAA play
• MWSU currently sits 10^th in the MIAA standings
• The Griffons have enjoyed the MWSU Fieldhouse this season, earning all five wins at home
• The Griffons beat Northeastern St. and Central Oklahoma last week by 10+ in each game
• Missouri Western averages 73.1 points per game and shot 41% from the field
• MWSU has made an average of 7.4 three-pointers per game (7^th in the MIAA)
• As a team, the Griffons average 36.5 rebounds per game (5^th in the MIAA)
• Aaron Emmanuel and Trey Sampson average 12.1 and 11.9 points per game, respectively
• Emmanuel and Kevin Thomas lead the team in rebounding each averaging 6.4 per game
• Sampson leads the MIAA in free throw percentage at 90%
• Freshman Miles Wentzien has scored in double-figures the last two games while coming off the bench

Northwest Missouri St.

• The Bearcats hold a 9-4 overall record and 6-2 conference record
• NWMSU currently sits in first place in the MIAA
• Northwest Missouri St. has won three straight games after suffer two straight losses
• The Bearcats claimed a 19 point victory over Central Oklahoma and a four point victory over Northeastern St. last week
• The Bearcats have averaged 77.4 points per game this season (6^th in the MIAA) and limit opponents to 66.5 (2^nd in the MIAA)
• NWMSU has made an average of 8.8 made three-point field goals per game (2^nd in the MIAA)
• Northwest Missouri St. commits a league-low 8.6 turnovers per game and have a +4.15 turnover margin
• Justin Pitts leads the Bearcats at 20.4 points per game (5^th in the MIAA)
• Conner Crooker and D'Vante Mosby each average in double-figures at 13.5 and 10.8, respectively
• Mosby leads the team with 6.7 rebounds per game