THIS WEEK IN GRIFFON MEN'S BASKETBALL
Tuesday, Nov. 20, 7:30 p.m. at
Quincy (1-2)
Friday, Nov. 23, 3:00 p.m. at
Missouri – St. Louis (3-1)
Saturday, Nov. 24, 1:00 p.m. at
Maryville (3-0)
ST. JOSEPH – Missouri Western (4-1) will play three more road games this week looking to improve off of its best start in the last seven seasons. The Griffons will travel to Quincy on Tuesday before heading to St. Louis for the UMSL Thanksgiving Classic.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
- Following the team's win over Missouri S&T on Saturday, Missouri Western now has its best start since the 2011-12 season.
- The Griffons' current four-game win streak is the program's longest win streak in seven years. A win on Tuesday would be the first time the Griffons had won five-straight since 2009.
- Rebounding and defense have been the Griffons' identity early in the season. The Griffons lead the MIAA in rebounds per game (41.2) and opponent field goal percentage (37%).
- Coach Sundance Wicks may continue to make changes to the starting lineup based on the opponent. Both Jonathan Mesmacque and Tyree Martin started their first game of the season at Missouri S&T after coming off of the bench in the first four games.
- Tuesday will be a rematch of a game that went down to final seconds in St. Joseph last year. The Griffons led by 18 with a little over three minutes remaining. Quincy ended the game on an 18-2 run and had the final possession but could not get off a shot before time expired.
SCOUTING THE GRIFFONS
- Lavon Hightower leads the team in scoring at 21.4 points per game. He is one of just four players in the MIAA to average over 20 points and shoot over 50 percent from the field.
- Hightower is also the team's leading rebounder at nine boards per game. Mesmacque is second on the team with over five per game.
- The Griffons are scoring 77 points per game
- The Griffons average over 25 free-throw attempts per game.
- Missouri Western is outscoring its opponents 196-170 in the second half.
QUINCY
- The Hawks returns their top four scorers from last season, led by Demetrius Houston who averaged over 14 points per game last year.
- Marcus Hinton has had a hot start to the season. The senior is averaging 18 points per game on 70 percent shooting.
- Quincy was picked to finish 13th in the GLVC after a 9-18 season in 2017-18.
- The Hawks average 82 points per game.
MISSOURI – ST. LOUIS
- Three players are averaging over 10 points per game for the Tritons.
- Ronnie Carson leads the team in scoring at over 15 points per game and is shooting an impressive 95 percent from the free-throw line.
- The Tritons fared much better on their home court last season as opposed to on the road. The team went 9-4 in home games and just 3-8 on the road.
- The Tritons are out-rebounding their opponents by nearly eight boards per game.
MARYVILLE
- Maryville is coming off of a 20-8 season in 2017-18.
- The Saints are outscoring their opponents by an average of 19 points over the first three games of the season.
- The Saints are shooting 50 percent from the field as a team.
- Casey Teson leads the team with 24.7 points per game.
