THIS WEEK IN GRIFFON MEN'S BASKETBALL
Tuesday, Feb. 26, 7:30 p.m. at
#1 Northwest Missouri (27-0, 17-0 MIAA)
Saturday, March 2, 3:00 p.m. at
Washburn (21-5, 14-3 MIAA)
ST. JOSEPH – Missouri Western (12-16, 6-11 MIAA) will face its toughest road task thus far in the final week of the regular season, as the Griffons travel to Northwest Missouri and Washburn. The Bearcats and the Ichabods are first and second respectively in the MIAA standings.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
- If any team can slow down the Northwest Missouri three-point shooting attack, it may be Missouri Western. Northwest Missouri is one of the top shooting teams in the country, making over 11 three's per game on 42 percent shooting. Meanwhile, the Griffons have allowed the fewest made three's in the MIAA, holding opponents to a 33 percent percentage.
- With two games left in his college career, Lavon Hightower needs just 27 points for the best scoring season the Missouri Western men's basketball program has seen since the 1999-00 season.
- An upset at Northwest Missouri would give the Griffons their first victory over a ranked opponent since Dec. 7, 2013 when the Griffons topped No. 15 Fort Hays State 82-79 in overtime at the MWSU Fieldhouse.
- The Griffons have proved that they can keep up with Washburn. In the teams' first meeting of the season, Washburn narrowly edged the Griffons in a 95-94 overtime win on Jan. 9.
- Missouri Western still has a chance at qualifying for the MIAA Basketball Championships. The Griffons would need a pair of wins alongside some help from other teams in the conference.
MISSOURI WESTERN NOTES
- Hightower leads the Griffons with 19 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.
- Missouri Western is 7-5 on the road this season.
- Bryan Hudson has upped his scoring in recent weeks, averaging 21 points per game over his last four.
- Griffon opponents have shot 45 percent from the field this season.
SCOUTING NORTHWEST MISSOURI
- Northwest Missouri is aiming to become the first MIAA school to go unbeaten in conference play since the 1966-67 season.
- Only three of the Bearcats' 27 wins have been decided by fewer than 10 points.
- Joey Witthus leads the team in scoring with 20 points per game while point guard Trevor Hudgins averages 19 points and over five assists per game.
- Northwest Missouri is third in the nation in both field goal percentage (52) and three-point percentage (42).
SCOUTING WASHBURN
- Javion Blake leads the team in scoring at 20 points per game. Blake poured in 34 points in Washburn's 95-94 win at Missouri Western earlier this season.
- With 21 wins and a .824 winning percentage, Washburn is on pace for its best season since 2003-04 when the team went 27-5 (.844) and won the MIAA conference title.
- The Ichabods have one of the top offenses in the conference at over 84 points per game.
- Washburn has won seven straight games entering its matchup with Northwest Missouri on Thursday.
