THIS WEEK IN GRIFFON MEN'S BASKETBALL
SCB Hall of Fame Classic
Saturday, Nov. 3, 5:30 p.m. vs. (RV) Tarleton
Sunday, Nov. 4, 3:15 p.m. vs. (RV) Fairmont
 
ST. JOSEPH – Missouri Western Men's Basketball will have no time to ease into the season as the Griffons tip off at the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic. The Griffons will face two high-quality opponents in Tarleton and Fairmont in Sundance Wicks' first games as head coach.
 
Sundance Wicks was announced as head coach in March of this year. Wicks comes to Missouri Western with extensive experience as an assistant coach at the Division I and Division II levels. He was most recently the associate head coach at Northern State University for the last two seasons where he helped lead the Wolves to NSIC regular season and postseason championships. Wicks also coached on the team that played in the program's first-ever appearance in the national championship game.
 
The Griffons will be looking to rebuild a program that was picked 12^th and 14^th in the MIAA Preseason Polls earlier in October. The team will have to mix youth with experience as the team brings a balance of freshmen, transfers, and returners.
 
One of the most notable of those returners is Lavon Hightower. As a junior, Hightower led the team with over 16 points per game on an efficient 51 percent shooting. He also led the team in rebounds (5.5) and minutes per game (31.6). Griffon fans will hope to see Hightower pick up where he left off last season, when he averaged over 20 points per game over the last 11 games.
 
Also returning for his senior season is Alex Martin. The versatile big man averaged nearly 20 minutes per game last season while starting 12 games for the Griffons. Martin averaged 4 rebounds per game and shot 32 percent from three last season. Senior Bryan Hudson will bring experience to the Missouri Western backcourt. Hudson shot over 40 percent from the field last season while averaging 14 minutes per game.
 
Wicks will rely on several key newcomers to step up early in the season. Transfers Tyus Millhollin and Sam Siganos will look to fill in at the point guard spot. Millhollin comes to Missouri Western after averaging over 14 points and 2 assists per game at Fresno City College. Siganos transfers to Missouri Western with Division II experience at Concordia-St. Paul. Siganos started 19 games as a true freshman while averaging seven points and 27 minutes per game. He shot an team-high 83 percent from the free throw line and was named to the NSIC All-Freshman Team.
 
TARLETON PREVIEW
Tarleton has been a perennial powerhouse in NCAA Division II with 22-straight winning seasons dating back to 1996. The Texans bring back their top-two leading scorers from last season in Corinthian Ramsey and Josh Hawley. Ramsey averaged 19 points and four assists per game. Hawley averaged nearly a double-double with 14 points and nine rebounds per game. Chris Reisman will also be coaching in his first career game as head coach after taking over for his father, Lonn Reisman, who stepped down after 30 years as head coach for the Texans.
 
FAIRMONT
On Sunday, the Griffons will face a team just two years removed from playing in the NCAA Division II National Championship. The Fighting Falcons will also return their top scorer from a year ago. Jason Jolly enters his senior season after averaging 15 points and four assists per game last season. Jolly scores over half of his point from deep as he made 85 three pointers last season. Fairmont will be led by first-year head coach Joe Mazzulla. Mazulla served three years at Fairmont as an assistant before coaching in the NBA Development League last season.
 
TICKETS
The SCB Hall of Fame Classic will feature a premier field of eight teams. All Missouri Western students are given free admission with their student ID. General admission adult tickets are $15 per day with youth and student tickets (age-7-college student) at $5 per day. Tickets can be purchased by clicking here or by calling the St. Joseph Civic Arena ticket office at 816-271-4717 or 800-821-5052.