The Missouri Western men's basketball team begins a three-game road trip Thursday as they play No. 15 Washburn at 7:30 p.m. inside Lee Arena.  The Griffons just wrapped up a five-game homestand as they won the final two games inside the MWSU Fieldhouse to stop their seven-game skid.  They're now 10-8 and tied for the fourth in the MIAA.

After trailing early to Newman on Tuesday, MWSU used an 18-4 run to take the lead for good and they cruised to their second straight win.  They led 40-35 at halftime and built the lead to as many as 21 points in the second half en route to the 86-75 win.  Reese Glover led Missouri Western with 20 points, while Tyrell Carroll added 19 points, six assists and four steals.  Will Eames scored 12 points and grabbed nine rebounds, and Caleb Bennett and Q Mays added 11 points each.

Missouri Western looks to sweep the season series against No. 15 Washburn.  The then No. 22 Griffons outlasted the fifth-ranked Ichabods on January 9, 74-67.  It was MWSU's first win over a top-five team since defeating No. 1 Missouri Southern on December 7, 2011.  Q Mays made 8-of-8 free throws in the final 1:30 and he led the Griffs with 17 points.  Glover (15 P), Carroll (13 P, 5 A) and Eames (12 P, 12 R) also scored in double figures for Western, and they held WU with 29.7% shooting for the game.  Tyler Geiman led the Ichabods with 20 points and 12 rebounds. 

Washburn is 14-3 this season and they've won three consecutive games.  They defeated Central Missouri in Warrensburg last Saturday, 70-68.  The Ichabods are 7-0 at home this season and they're led by Geiman.  He is averaging 20.9 points, 6.6 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game.  Jalen Lewis is also in double figures at 12.1 points per game.  WU is the No. 1 scoring offense (82.4) in the MIAA, and they're second in FG% (48.4), 3FG% (41.2) and FG% defense (42.8).

COACH WILL IS BACK
Missouri Western just wrapped up a stretch of six games in 11 days  after having to reschedule four games from last month due to health and safety protocols.   The Griffons played the final four games of their homestand without head coach Will Martin, as he announced last week that he tested positive for COVID-19.  Coach Martin will be back on the sideline for MWSU Thursday against Washburn as assistant coach Ty Danielson was the acting head coach and GA Weston Smith was his top assistant for the four games.  Western women's coach Candi Whitaker helped out on the bench for three of the four games.  Assistant coach Tim Peete also missed three of the four games as he was in quarantine, but he was able to return Tuesday against Newman.

SERIES VS. WASHBURN
The Ichabods lead the all-time series 55-41, including a 32-14 mark in Topeka.  Missouri Western has won three straight in the series, but WU has won three straight inside Lee Arena.  The Griffs last win in Topeka came in the first round of the 2016 MIAA Tournament, 70-54.  The last win for MWSU in the regular season at Washburn came in the 2010-11 season, 103-82.

CONSECUTIVE GAMES MAKING A 3
Missouri Western made 13-of-25 three-pointers at home Tuesday against Newman to extend a school record with their 480th consecutive game with a made three-pointer.  The last time MWSU didn't make a three-point field goal in a game was February 4, 2004 at Emporia State when the Griffons went 0-of-7 in a 70-53 loss to the Hornets. 

STARTING TO CONNECT FROM DEEP
The Griffons were last in the MIAA in 3FG percentage two weeks ago, but they've climbed up to No. 9 in the league as they've shot 41.7% (63-151) from behind the arc in their last six games.  In the five games prior to this stretch, MWSU shot only 23.9% (26-109) from the three-point line. 

LOCKING DOWN THE ARC
Opponents have struggled to shoot the ball from behind the three-point line against Missouri Western this season as the Griffons are no. 2 in the MIAA in three-point field goal percentage defense (33.0%) and they're sixth in the league in overall field goal percentage defense (45.4%).

TAKE-A-WAYS
The Griffons lead the MIAA in turnovers forced (15.8), turnover margin (3.2) and steals per game (8.8).  MWSU has forced 13+ turnovers in 13 games this season and they've forced 18+ turnovers in eight games.  Western also have 70 more steals than their opponents and have 10+ steals in 10 games.

ON THE GLASS
Missouri Western is third in the MIAA in rebounds per game (35.7) and they're fourth in offensive rebounds per contest (9.8).  The Griffons are also second in the MIAA in blocked shots per game (3.6).

RECORD SETTING HALF
Missouri Western scored 71 second half points in their loss to Southern on Thursday to set a new school record for points in a half.  The previous mark was 70 set by the 2001-2002 team against Lincoln on 11/24/01.

BACK IN THE TOP 25 THIS SEASON
The Griffons were ranked in the NABC Top 25 earlier this season for the first time since the 2001-2002 campaign.  MWSU stayed in the rankings for six consecutive polls, while was the fourth longest streak in school history.

HOME WINNING STREAK SNAPPED
Missouri Western stopped its three-game losing streak at home with their 82-81 win over Pitt State.  It was the first time since the 2018-19 that they had lost three straight inside the MWSU Fieldhouse.  Before this skid, MWSU had won six straight and 17 of their previous 18 games at home. 

PLAYER NOTES
0 REESE GLOVER
- 19+ points in four of his last five games
- Has shot 52.8% (28-of-53) from beyond the three-point line in his last six games
- Moved into 4th on the all-time 3FGM list as he now has 134 career three-pointers made.
- Made 5+ 3FG in four of last five games
- Made 3+ three-point field goals in 11 games
- Has made at least one 3PT FG in 16 of 17 games this season, 27 of his last 29 games, and 40 of 47 career games
- 1st in the MIAA in 3FG made/game (3.2)
- 2nd in the MIAA in total 3FG made (55)
- 1st in the MIAA in 3FG attempted (132)

3 TYRELL CARROLL
- Scored a career-high 32 vs. MSSU
- Averaging 25.3 P, 5.7 A in his last three games
- Scored double figures in 24 of his last 25 games
- Scored in DF is 35 of his last 37 and 66 of his 77 career games played
- 5 or more assists in nine of last 12 games
- Moved into 3rd on the all-time assists list and 7th all-time in scoring
- 2+ steals in 11 games and 5+ steals in four games
- 5th in the MIAA in Assists/game (4.4)
- 4th in the MIAA in Assist-Turnover Ratio (1.7)
- 3rd in the MIAA in FT made (81)
- 2nd in the MIAA in FT attempted (115)
- 6th in the MIAA in Points/game (17.9)
- 1st in the MIAA in Steals/game (2.5)

4 ALEX JOHN
- 4+ rebounds nine of last 12 games
- 3+ rebounds in 16 games
- 2+ blocks in six games
- 2nd in the MIAA in total blocks (18)

5 CALEB BENNETT
- Scored in double figures in 10 games
- Scored a career-high 28 points vs. UCO
- 8 steals vs. WU is tied for 2nd most in a game in MWSU history
- 3+ rebounds in 11 games
- 2+ steals in six games
- 8th in the MIAA in Steals/game (1.6)

10 Q MAYS
- Scored in double figures in eight of last 11 games and 13 total this season
- 4+ rebounds in seven games
- Double-Double in the opener at Rogers State (13 points, 11 rebounds)
- Made 8 consecutive free throws in the final 1:30 vs. #5 Washburn

13 TYREE MARTIN
- 5+ rebounds in six games this season
- 3+ rebounds in 12 games
- 2+ blocks in five games
- 2+ steals in four games

33 WILL EAMES
- Scored in double figures in 13 games
- Career-high 17 rebounds vs. PSU
- 11+ rebounds in seven games
- 7 double-doubles after getting four all of his freshman season
- 3rd in the MIAA in Double-Doubles (7)
- 4th in the MIAA in rebounds per game (8.9)