ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Griffon Men's Basketball returns home with hopes of a bounce-back win over Rockhurst in a non-conference matchup on Tuesday night at the MWSU Fieldhouse.
KEEPING UP WITH THE GRIFFONS
Griffon fans wishing to watch or listen to the game can tune in with "The Voice of the Griffons" Tommy Rezac on the MIAA Network and KFEQ Radio. Admission can be purchased by clicking on the "Tickets" tab above. Catch an exclusive interview with Head Coach
Will Martin on the pregame show at 6:30 p.m., as tip-off is slated for 7.
RATTLE 'EM OFF, REESE
Despite losing 78-67 to Oklahoma Baptist last Thursday night, fans saw history made in Shawnee, Oklahoma. Junior guard
Reese Glover shot 6-of-11 from downtown to give him a team-high 18 points and 203 made three's in his career, making him only the third Griffon in program history to surpass 200. He is third all-time in three's, trailing Heath Dudley's 217 (1987-1991) and Cole Clearman's record of 233 (2014-18).
DANGEROUS DIXON
Julius Dixon is making a name for himself in his three games as a Griffon, averaging 15 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. His PPG showing is good for 12th in the MIAA, while he is eighth in rebounds. In his first and most recent game, Dixon scored a career-high 17 points, nearly pulling a double-double on Nov. 11 vs. Minnesota Crookston with a 17-9 stat line.
SCOUTING THE HAWKS
Heading into Tuesday's matchup, MWSU leads Rockhurst in the all-time series dating back to 1970, 33-31, trading wins each meeting with the Hawks from 2017 on to 2021. Rockhurst (2-2) is coached by eighth-year man Drew Diener, who is 95-102 during his time in Kansas City.
Coming off their second-straight losing season, the Hawks are off to a .500 start this winter, defeating Davenport University, 83-72, and most recently Washburn last Friday in KCMO, 79-70. Standout Rich Byhre led Rockhurst with a double-double of 18 points and 14 rebounds, while Jake Auer chipped in a game-high 20 points off the bench, making 5-of-9 from beyond the arc. Rockhurst shot a solid 41.2% (9-of-21) from downtown, with Auer effectively icing the game in the second half to push Rockhurst's lead to eight with 88 seconds to play.
Byhre leads the GLVC while averaging a double-double with 19.3 PPG and 11.3 RPG. Miles White is ninth in the conference with 6.3 RPG. The Hawks did lose to Emporia State on Nov. 16 in Emporia, Kansas, 66-64.
LAST MEETING
The Griffons defeated the Hawks on Nov. 23, 2021, 69-59, in Kansas City, Missouri, led by
Reese Glover's game-high 21 points. Glover, in almost typical fasion, made 7-of-11 three's, while Byhre scored a Rockhurst-high 17 points while snagging nine boards, playing all but one minute. In a starting role, Auer scored 13 points in 39 minutes but made 3-of-10 shots from deep.
ON THIS DAY IN GRIFFON MEN'S HISTORY: NOV. 22
These two teams met on this day back in 2008 in the second contest of the season. Rockhurst barely escaped that day with the 73-72 victory. After losing another game to the Hawks just a week later, Missouri Western went on to win the next four matchups.
NOTABLES
- JaRon Thames made his season debut at Oklahoma Baptist, scoring four points and grabbing four rebounds.
- Martin's next win will be the 30th of his career.
- Zion Swader is one layup away from scoring his 100th collegiate point.
- Thames is two blocks away from career swat No. 50.
- Under Martin, MWSU is 2-1 vs. GLVC teams and 6-6 overall vs. non-conference teams.
- Rockhurst gives up the most RPG in the GLVC with an average of 29.3.
