THIS WEEK IN GRIFFON MEN'S BASKETBALL
Monday, Jan. 6, 7:30 p.m. vs. Northeastern State
Thursday, Jan. 9, 7:30 p.m. at Washburn
Saturday, Jan. 11, 3:30 p.m. at Emporia State
 
ST. JOSEPH – Missouri Western Men's Basketball has a full slate of action this week. The Griffons (6-8, 2-1 MIAA) will open the week hosting Northeastern State (9-4, 2-2 MIAA) and then will hit the road on Thursday to play Washburn (7-5, 2-1 MIAA). Missouri Western will finish the week in Emporia, Kansas to take on Emporia State (8-4, 2-1 MIAA).
 
The Griffons look to build on the following week's success as they beat Avila 95-56 on New Year's Eve and topped Rogers State and snapped their five-game win streak 79-67 on Saturday.
 
PREVIEWING THE GRIFFONS
 

• Missouri Western averages 4.43 blocked shots per game placing second best on average in the MIAA.
• The Griffs also rank third in the conference in three-point field goals made per game averaging 9.4 makes.
• MWSU has also bumped up their scoring average to 77.2 points per game which moves the Griffs up to sixth best in the league.
• Tyrell Carroll continues to make an impact on the stat line for the Griffons. TC currently leads the MIAA in steals averaging 2.4 takeaways per game. This steal average also ranks in the top-20 of all of Division II.
• Carroll also ranks third in the conference in scoring averaging 17.2 points per contest.
• Finally, TC averages six assists per game which ranks third best in the league.
• Tyus Millhollin leads the MIAA in three-point field goals made averaging 2.9 made shots per game. Reese Glover also pops up on this list at sixth best, averaging 2.5 makes per game.
• Will Eames ranks in the top-10 of the league in rebounding averaging 6.9 boards per contest.
• Alex John ranks third in the conference in blocked shots per game averaging 1.6 rejections per game.

 
SCOUTING NORTHEASTERN STATE
 

• The Riverhawks place in the top-five of the MIAA in field goal percentage averaging 47% per game.
• NSU also ranks in the top-10 of the conference in scoring averaging 76.5 points per contest.
• Northeastern State also plays well on the defensive side of the ball. The Riverhawks have held teams to an average of 62.5 points per game which leads the league and ranks sixth best in all of Division II.
• Aaron Givens averages 1.5 blocked shots per game for NSU which ranks fourth best in the MIAA.
• Givens also ranks in the top-10 of the conference in rebounding averaging 7.2 boards per game.
• Caleb Smith ranks in the top-10 of the league in scoring averaging 15.6 points per game.

 
SCOUTING WASHBURN
 

• The Ichabods rank second best in the MIAA in assists averaging 15.83 per game.
• Washburn also ranks in the top-five of the league in steals averaging 7.25 takeaways per game.
• Jonny Clausing leads the conference in blocked shots averaging 2.3 rejections per game for the Ichabods. This total also receives national recognition as it ranks 12^th best in all of Division II.
• Clausing also averages 8.2 rebounds per game which puts him at fourth best in the conference.
• Jalen Lewis ranks second in the MIAA in three-point field goal percentage averaging 40% from beyond the arc. He also averages 2.5 makes per game which settles him into the top-five of the league in that category.
• Tyler Geiman ranks second in the MIAA in assists averaging 6.4 per contest.

 
SCOUTING EMPORIA STATE
 

• The Hornets lead the MIAA in blocked shots averaging 4.58 rejections per game.
• ESU also averages 82.2 points per game which ranks third best in the conference.
• Jumah'Ri Turner ranks in the top-15 of the conference in scoring averaging 15 points per game for the Hornets.
• Brenden Van Dyke averages 7.2 rebounds per game. This total ranks him in the top-10 of the MIAA in that category.
• Van Dyke also ranks second best in the league in blocked shots averaging 1.8 rejections per game.
• Keyon Thomas averages 1.9 steals per game which places him sixth best in the MIAA in that category.