Vance
Connor Timmons

Men's Basketball

Men's basketball heads for UCM Wednesday, No. 1 Washburn Saturday

Griffons rematch Mules and Ichabods this week.

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - Griffon Men's Basketball (13-6, 5-3 MIAA) goes back on the road for another round of MIAA rematches. MoWest first stops in Warrensburg to see Central Missouri (14-6, 5-3 MIAA) on Wednesday night before facing No. 1 and undefeated Washburn (18-0, 8-0 MIAA) on Saturday afternoon.
 
Wednesday's game will tip at 7:30 p.m., while Saturday's is set to start at 3 p.m. Both games will be broadcast on the Griffon Sports Network (Varsity Network App, GoGriffons.com/listen) with Voice of the Griffons Tommy Rezac on the call.
 
Both games are also available to watch on the MIAA Network with a subscription. MoWest looks to sweep Central Missouri in the regular season for a second year in a row, while also looking to play spoiler on Saturday and break what's now a five-game losing streak to the Ichabods.
 
A Quick Recap
Griffon Men's Basketball got to the free throw line 42 times and got 31 points from their bench in a 89-80 win over Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday at the MWSU Fieldhouse, scoring its first regular season series sweep over UNK since 1985-86.
 
Noah King logged his eighth 20-plus point performance of the season, scoring a game-high 27 points, shooting 8-of-16 from the field and 9-of-11 at the foul line. Devin Butler came off the bench for 14 points, while Bode Goodman chipped in 10.
 
Ty Henry and Gavin Hershberger each scored eight. William Kiburis pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds. MoWest ended up going 33-of-42 at the foul line - a season-high in most free throw attempts and most free throws made in a game. The Griffs were 25-of-60 (41.7%) from the field and 6-of-22 (27.3%) from three as well.

Takin' Care of Basketball Business
The Griffs' 1.33 assist-to-turnover ratio ranks No. 2 in the MIAA. Their turnover margin of +3.47 ranks No. 2 in the MIAA as well. MoWest ranks No. 1 in the MIAA and No. 6 in NCAA Division II with only 10.1 giveaways per game.
 
Finding Many Free Throws
MoWest currently leads the MIAA and ranks No. 15 in NCAA Division II in made free throws (321) and is No. 1 in the league with 373 attempts for a free throw percentage of 74.7% (No. 4 MIAA). MoWest makes, on average, 16.9 free throws per game (No. 2 MIAA).

King-Sized Career
Noah King, who's averaging 17.6 points per game (8th MIAA) this season, has scored at least 20 points in eight different games this season, including a career-best 31 in a 90-72 win over Arkansas Tech on November 28, 2025. King is up to 2,084 career points as a college basketball player, including 749 points at Kirkwood CC and 1,001 in two seasons at Upper Iowa. He owns 131 career starts as well.
 
Marko's Mark
Freshman forward Marko Pavlovic ranks No. 3 in the MIAA in rebounds per game (8.1), No. 4 in field goal percentage (58.4%), and No. 3 in blocked shots (24).
 
Pavlovic leads the MIAA with 55 offensive rebounds – tied for No. 15 in NCAA Division II. His 153 total rebounds is good for No. 2 in the MIAA and No. 22 in NCAA D2. Pavlovic has also logged five double-doubles this season - second most in the MIAA as well.
 
Opponents at a Glance
Central Missouri (14-6, 5-3 MIAA), who's in a six-way tie for second place in the MIAA standings, own wins this season over No. 10 Colorado School of Mines, No. 22 Upper Iowa, No. 4 West Texas A&M and Fort Hays State (13-4).
 
The Mules sit No. 1 in the MIAA and No. 9 in NCAA D2 with a three-point percentage of 40.2% (219-of-545). The 219 made threes are most in the league AND in D2, as UCM averages 11 made three-pointers per game (No. 1 MIAA, No. 5 nation).
 
UCM is led in scoring by true freshman Lazarek Houston, who ranks No. 2 in the MIAA with 20.3 points per game. Meanwhile, Jevon Hill, a South Dakota transfer, leads the MIAA and is No. 13 in NCAA D2 with a 45.8% three-point percentage (71-of-155). His 71 made three-pointers is more than any player in NCAA D2 currently, and is tied for most amongst all men's players across all NCAA divisions.
 
Series History
Wednesday marks the 80th all-time meeting with UCM. The Mules lead the all-time series 44-35, but MoWest has won each of the last three meetings.
 
No. 1 Washburn (18-0, 8-0 MIAA) has picked up right where it left off after making it to the Final Four last March. Beating teams this season by an average margin of 88.8 - 61.9, the Ichabods already own wins over No. 3 Dallas Baptist, No. 4 Lubbock Christian and No. 4 West Texas A&M. The Ichabods have also won a remarkable 23 straight games at home.
 
The Ichabods rank No. 1 in the MIAA and No. 18 in NCAA D2 with 88.8 points per game, while also sitting No. 2 in the league and No. 9 in the nation in scoring defense (59.5). Washburn also leads the league in field goal percentage (52.2% - No. 2 nation), scoring margin (+26.9 - No. 1 nation), rebounding margin (+12.6 - No. 2 nation), turnover margin (+5.83 - No. 9 nation), takeaways per game (18.1 - No. 12 nation), assist-to-turnover ratio (1.53 - No. 10 nation), assists per game (18.9 - No. 6 nation) and steals per game (11.1 - No. 8 nation).
 
Sophomore forward Dillon Claussen has emerged as the lead scorer and rebounder for Washburn with 15.8 points and 6.8 rebounds per game (No. 7 MIAA), while shooting a league-best 65.2% from the field (No. 8 nation).
 
Junior guard and all-MIAA pick Jack Bachelor is averaging 15.1 points per game, while shooting 40.2% from three (No. 3 MIAA). Bachelor's 3.4 assist-to-turnover ratio is the best in the MIAA and No. 4 best in NCAA D2.
 
Series History
Saturday marks the 110th all-time meeting with Washburn. The Ichabods lead the series at 65-44, having won each of the last five contests. Washburn has won 10 of the last 12 games in the series dating back to March 2021.
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Players Mentioned

Devin Butler

#1 Devin Butler

G
6' 2"
Senior
Bode  Goodman

#22 Bode Goodman

G
6' 2"
Freshman
Ty Henry

#2 Ty Henry

G
6' 5"
Senior
Gavin Hershberger

#8 Gavin Hershberger

G
5' 10"
Redshirt Sophomore
William Kiburis

#11 William Kiburis

G
6' 4"
Junior
Noah King

#7 Noah King

G
6' 2"
Senior
Marko Pavlovic

#25 Marko Pavlovic

F
6' 9"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Devin Butler

#1 Devin Butler

6' 2"
Senior
G
Bode  Goodman

#22 Bode Goodman

6' 2"
Freshman
G
Ty Henry

#2 Ty Henry

6' 5"
Senior
G
Gavin Hershberger

#8 Gavin Hershberger

5' 10"
Redshirt Sophomore
G
William Kiburis

#11 William Kiburis

6' 4"
Junior
G
Noah King

#7 Noah King

6' 2"
Senior
G
Marko Pavlovic

#25 Marko Pavlovic

6' 9"
Freshman
F