THIS WEEK IN GRIFFON MEN'S BASKETBALL
Wednesday, Feb. 13, 7:30 p.m. vs. Southwest Baptist (11-11, 5-8 MIAA)
Saturday, Feb. 16, 4:00 p.m. vs. Central Missouri (12-10, 5-8 MIAA)
 
ST. JOSEPH – Missouri Western (11-13, 5-8 MIAA) will play its final two home games of the season this week as the team hosts Southwest Baptist and Central Missouri. It will be the first time the Griffons have faced either team so far this season.
 
WHAT TO WATCH FOR

• Missouri Western, Southwest Baptist, and Central Missouri are deadlocked in a three-way tie for seventh in the MIAA standings with six games remaining. With the top 10 teams qualifying for the conference tournament, these games could be crucial in determining if the Griffons make the tournament and what seed they earn.
• Saturday will be Senior Day for Lavon Hightower, Bryan Hudson, and Alex Martin. Hightower and Hudson are the Griffons' top two leading scorers and Martin has started 17 games this season.
• Hightower is on pace to have one of the best scoring seasons in the last 20 years at Missouri Western. With six regular season games remaining, he is on pace to have the third-best scoring season in the last 20 years.
• The Griffons have continued improve in the turnover department as the season has progressed. Missouri Western had averaged fewer than nine turnovers per game over its last five games, the team's best five-game stretch this season.
• With 11 wins and six games remaining, two more wins would give Missouri Western its most wins in a season since 2009-10 when the team finished 18-12.

 
MISSOURI WESTERN NOTES

• The Griffons have attempted more three's than their opponent in all but two of their games this season.
• Hightower's 19.5 points per game ranks eighth in the MIAA.
• Missouri Western's overtime win against Pittsburg State in its last home game snapped a five-game losing skid at home.
• Tyrell Carroll has averaged 16 points per game over his last 10 games.

 
SCOUTING SOUTHWEST BAPTIST

• Karim Mouliom is the team's leading scorer at 15 points per game.
• Southwest Baptist is one of the top rebounding teams in the conference at over 37 boards per game.
• The Bearcats are scoring an average of 77 points per game.
• Point guard Chris Rossow is sixth in the MIAA with 4.5 assists per game.

 
SCOUTING CENTRAL MISSOURI

• Central Missouri allows just 70 points per game, second-best in the MIAA.
• The Mules have played much better at home than on the road. They hold a 10-3 home record compared to just 1-6 on the road.
• The Central Missouri offense is led by committee, with three players averaging double-digit scoring led by Jafar Kinsey's 13 points per game.