THIS WEEK IN GRIFFON MEN'S BASKETBALL
Thursday, Feb. 21, 7:30 p.m. at Southwest Baptist (12-12, 6-9 MIAA)
Saturday, Feb. 23, 3:30 p.m. at Central Missouri (13-11, 6-9 MIAA)
 
ST. JOSEPH – One week after facing Southwest Baptist and Central Missouri at the MWSU Fieldhouse in St. Joseph, Missouri Western (11-15, 5-10 MIAA) will travel to take on those same two opponents this week. The Griffons will have a second chance after a pair of narrow defeats in last week's games.

 
WHAT TO WATCH FOR

• With just four games remaining, Missouri Western is currently on the outside of the MIAA Championships picture. Sitting just one game back from both Southwest Baptist and Central Missouri, the Griffons could still move up and qualify for the postseason tournament.
• Lavon Hightower needs just 68 points to reach 1,000 for his two-year career at Missouri Western. Hightower is wrapping up one of the best scoring seasons in program history and is on pace to score the most points in a season since 2002-03.
• The Griffons cannot afford the same start they had in last week's loss to Southwest Baptist. Missouri Western trailed by as many as 21 points before marching back within three points. The Griffons could not even the score as the Bearcats pulled away in the final minutes.
• Missouri Western will have the opportunity to avenge one of the most heartbreaking losses of its season against Central Missouri. After Bryan Hudson's layup through traffic tied the game at 56 apiece with just four seconds remaining, Central Missouri traveled the length of the court and banked in the game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer.
• With 11 wins and four 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

• Hightower is one of just three players in the MIAA in the top-10 in both scoring (19.1, 8^th) and rebounding (7.4, 5^th).
• Having all of their remaining games on the road may benefit the Griffons, who hold a 6-4 road record compared to 2-9 at home.
• Senior Bryan Hudson is one of the most efficient scorers in the conference, making 53 percent of his shot attempts.
• Missouri Western shoots the second-most three's in the MIAA.

 
SCOUTING SOUTHWEST BAPTIST

• Karim Moulim is the team's leading scorer at 15 points per game.
• SBU is one of the top rebounding teams in the conference at 37 boards per game.
• Maris Colton and Godfrey Rolle each scored 22 points in last week's win over the Griffons.
• The Bearcats only attempt 22 three's per game.

 
SCOUTING CENTRAL MISSOURI

• The Mules are one of just two teams in the MIAA to allow fewer than 70 points per game.
• Missouri Western was not the only victim of a last-second game-winner from Jafar Kinsey. The Mules' guard sank a game-winner against Emporia State just one week before making the game-winning three at the buzzer against the Griffons.
• Central Missouri is a much better team at home than on the road, with a 10-3 home record compared to just 2-7 on the road.
• The Mules force over 13 turnovers per game this season.