Missouri Western returns to the MWSU Fieldhouse Tuesday as they entertain the Emporia State Hornets at 6:00 p.m. It'll be the first home game for the Griffons since January 9 and they'll look to win back-to-back games for the first time this season.
MWSU stopped its seven-game losing streak on Saturday with an 84-72 win at Lincoln. It was the highest scoring game of the season for the Griffons and they shot over 50% (31-of-61) for the first time this season. Western outrebounded LU 44-35 on Saturday and forced 24 Blue Tiger turnovers. Numerous Griffons will try and build on career days in Jefferson City.
Logan Hughes had a career-high 20 points and a career high eight rebounds.
Mychaell Gray scored a career-high 14 points and tied a career-high with five steals.
Camille Evans equaled her career-high in rebounds with 10, while
Jordan Cunningham had a career best six boards. And
Kameron Freemyer played a career-high 19 points and scored a career-high six points.
Emporia State is 9-3 this season and fresh off an 85-65 win at Newman on Saturday. The Hornets have five players that average double figures, led by 2020 MIAA Freshman of the Year Tre'Zure Jobe who is averaging 20.1 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game. She's second in the MIAA in scoring. Toby Wynn is in his third season at ESU and is 55-19 overall and 37-13 in the MIAA.
Emporia State leads the all-time series 55-36, but Missouri Western is 22-19 in games played in St. Joseph. The two teams have split their last six meetings and MWSU has won the last two at the Fieldhouse.
RESCHEDULED GAMES
Missouri Western had to postpone three games last week after pausing all team activities and now all of the games have been rescheduled. The Fort Hays State game from Saturday, January 16 will now be played at Hays on Monday, February 8 at 5:30 p.m. The Newman game from Thursday, January 21 has been rescheduled for Monday, February 15 at 5:30 p.m. inside the MWSU Fieldhouse. And the Griffons home game with Central Oklahoma from Saturday, January 23, will now be played February 24 in St. Joseph.
YOUTH MOVEMENT
Missouri Western is relying on many young players this season after graduating six seniors and losing all five starters off their 21-8 team last season. The Griffons have nine first-year players and just six that played in a Griffon uniform prior to this season.
MINUTES PLAYED PER CLASS
Freshman - 963 (43.8% of teams total minutes)
Sophomore - 418 (19.0%)
Junior - 244 (11.1%)
Senior - 575 (26.1%)
MINUTES PLAYED PER YEAR OF EXPERIENCE IN THE PROGRAM
1st Year – 1351 (61.4% of teams total minutes played)
2nd Year – 806 (36.6%)
3rd Year – 43 (2.0%)
POINTS SCORED PER CLASS
Freshman - 271 (41.1% of teams total points)
Sophomore - 163 (24.7%)
Junior - 78 (11.8%)
Senior - 148 (22.4%)
POINTS SCORED PER YEAR OF EXPERIENCE IN THE PROGRAM
1st Year – 410 (62.1% of teams total minutes played)
2nd Year – 242 (36.7%)
3rd Year – 8 (1.2%)
ON THE GLASS
MWSU leads the MIAA in offensive rebounds (12.9) this season and they are fourth in the league to rebounds per game (38.1). MWSU has had at least 38 rebounds in seven games and they've added 11 or more offensive rebounds in seven games this season.
DEFENSE
The Griffons are now second in the MIAA in three-point field goal percentage defense (27.1%). Only two opponents have shot better than 40% from three this season. Western has held seven teams to under 40% shooting overall and they've held seven opponents to 67 points or less this season.
FORCING TURNOVERS
Missouri Western has forced 20 or more turnovers four times this season and 15 or more in seven games. They rank fourth in the MIAA in turnovers forced per game (16.4).
