ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — In search of their first 5-0 start since 2005, Griffon Men's Basketball battles with Bethel College this Saturday afternoon at the MWSU Fieldhouse.
TICKETS + WHERE TO WATCH/LISTEN
Griffon Men's Basketball (4-0) will grace the airwaves of KFEQ Radio, as fans can tune in with the "Voice of the Griffons" Tommy Rezac and MWSU Director of Athletic Communications Derek Zimmerman-Guyer on the call. The game will air on KFEQ - AM 680 and the
KFEQ Live Stream.
The game is also available to watch on the MIAA Network. Tipoff is set for 3:30 p.m., with pregame starting at 3. Game admission can be found in the "Tickets" tab.
NATIONAL NOTES
The Griffons are still receiving six votes in the latest
NABC Top-25 Poll and were
tabbed seventh in the Central Region Poll.
| Central Region Ranking |
School Name |
Record |
Points |
Previous Rank |
| 1 |
Central Oklahoma (4) |
5-0 |
40 |
1 |
| 2 |
MSU Moorhead |
4-0 |
30 |
6 |
| 3 |
Minnesota State |
3-0 |
29 |
T2 |
| 4 |
Emporia State |
4-1 |
25 |
4 |
| 5 |
Central Missouri |
3-0 |
20 |
10 |
| 6 |
Fort Hays State |
2-1 |
19 |
T2 |
| 7 |
Missouri Western |
3-0 |
17 |
9 |
| 8 |
Minnesota State |
3-1 |
14 |
7 |
| T9 |
Southwest Minnesota State |
2-0 |
6 |
8 |
| T9 |
Southern Nazarene |
2-1 |
6 |
RV |
NOTABLES
- With 81.4 points per game, MWSU has the fourth-highest-scoring offense in the MIAA.
- Western is holding teams to just a 26.3% clip from 3-point range, the second lowest in the conference.
- With 19 PPG, senior forward JaRon Thames is fifth in the MIAA. He has scored 18 or more points in each game.
- Junior guard Taye Fields' 8.3 rebounds per game rank fifth in the league.
- Shooting 75.0% from the field, junior forward Kiani Saxon has the second-best field goal percentage in the MIAA. Thames is eighth (62.7%), and Fields is 19th (54.5%).
- Head Coach Will Martin is 2-0 vs. NAIA programs in regular season games.
- The Griffons are 6-0 against their last six non-conference opponents.
- Bethel's record will not change due to this game being considered an exhibition on its end.
11/25 - BETHEL COLLEGE | 3:30 PM
Bethel (3-4, 1-1 KCAC) has yet to string back-to-back wins this season and is 1-3 on the road. The Threshers are coming off an 82-59 victory over Bethany College on Nov. 18 in North Newton, Kansas. Bethel went 20-11 last season and made the NAIA National Tournament.
Who to Watch
Senior guard Nick Bonner leads the team with 13.9 PPG, followed by fellow senior guard Keyaun Hoskin's 13 PPG. Bonner is another level right now, scoring 10 or more points in all seven games this season. Sophomore guard Carmelo Yakubu will be the main man contesting for rebounds with 5.4 boards per game.
Head Coach
Now in his sixth season at Bethel, Jayson Artaz is 129-65 as a Thresher. He has never faced MWSU. Artaz has coached 4 All-Americans, two KCAC players of the year, 15 All-KCAC Performers, six All-KCAC defensive Team selections, five All-KCAC Freshmen team selections and three Freshman of the Year.
Record Rabbit Hole
This is the first-ever matchup between Bethel and Western.
ON THIS DAY IN GRIFFON MBB HISTORY
Nov. 25 | Box Score | Video Recap
Starting a three-game winning streak, the Griffons of 2012 went to battle with Upper Iowa, winning 84-79 at the MWSU Fieldhouse. Western went ahead 42-39 at halftime thanks to 10 first-half points by Cedric Clinkscales. He finished with 16 points, as did Ryan Devers. Clinkscales also finished with a double-double thanks to 14 rebounds.
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