ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - Griffon Men's Basketball (1-0) plays its first home games of the 2026-27 season this weekend, hosting the annual Hillyard Tipoff Classic. MoWest gets an NCAA tournament rematch on Friday at 1 p.m. against No. 22 St. Cloud State. The Griffs then see defending NSIC tournament champion Minnesota-Duluth on Saturday at 3 p.m.

Both games will be broadcast on the Griffon Sports Network (Varsity Network App, GoGriffons.com/listen) and available to watch on the MIAA Network with a subscription. Voice of the Griffons Tommy Rezac will be on the call Friday, while KQ2's Dan Byford is on the mic Saturday. Hall of Fame coach Tom Smith will be the analyst for both games.

Quite a Night in Quincy
Griffon Men's Basketball opened the 2026-27 season in historic fashion Monday night, defeating Quincy 103-70 at Pepsi Arena in Quincy, IL behind a dominant second half performance and six players scoring in double figures.

The 33-point win marked the Griffons' largest margin of victory over an NCAA Division II opponent since a 98-49 win over Missouri-Rolla in November 2006. It was MoWest's largest road victory against a Division II opponent since January 1998 when the Griffons won at Lincoln 113-76. It was MoWest's first season-opening victory since 2023 and its most points scored in a season opener since 2005-06.

The Griffons shot 54.9% from the field (39-of-71) and connected on 16-of-31 three-point attempts (51.6%). The 16 made three-pointers tied for the second most in a single game in program history.

Bode Goodman led the Griffons with a career-high 21 points, adding five assists and three steals. Corbin Johnson followed with 17 points and five rebounds, connecting on five three-pointers in his collegiate debut. William Kiburis recorded a double-double with 15 points and a game-high 14 rebounds, including. He also added three blocks.

Gavin Hershberger contributed 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting, including 3-of-4 from beyond the arc, while adding four assists and three steals. Drew Kingery and Crew Gibson chipped in 10 points apiece.

The Griffons also forced 23 Quincy turnovers, scoring 34 points off of those. MoWest held a 42-30 advantage in points in the paint, got 47 bench points and finished with 21 second-chance points.

2026-27 Breakdown
The Griffons are in their second season under head coach Brooks McKowen after a successful 2025-26 campaign. In his inaugural season at MoWest, McKowen led the Griffs to a 21-12 record, including a 12-7 mark in the MIAA. It was the first 20-win season since 2003 and it marked a return to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2021 and just the third time since 2010.

The Griffons return seven players fom last year's team, including starters Gavin Hershberger and William Kiburis. Other key returners include now sophomores Trey McKowen and Bode Goodman. The Griffons also signed eight new players - four freshmen and four transfers.

Kiburis is the lead returning scorer and rebounder for MoWest. Starting 29 games last season, Kiburis averaged 11 points and 6 rebounds per game. He also had a team best 44 steals and shot an outstanding 57.4% from the field. Hershberger, who started all 33 games last season, is the lead returning three-point threat. The redshirt junior connected on 53 three-pointers last season while averaging 8.6 points and 2.8 rebounds per game.

McKowen and Goodman, who played all 33 games last season as true freshmen, step into their sophomore campaigns after solid showings. McKowen is the lead returning free throw shooter, making 78.6% at the stripe last season while averaging 6.3 points per game. He also accounted for 32 steals. Goodman averaged 6.7 points and 1.6 rebounds per game while shooting 40% from the field.

Record Breakers
MoWest turned in the second highest scoring total in program history last year, scoring 2688 points - second only to the 1994-95 team that put up 2897. Last year's team did break school records for most field goals made in a season (944) and most assists (456). They also hit the second most three-pointers in a single season in school history (256).

The Griffons were consistently one of the best free throw shooting teams in the MIAA last season, making 75.1% (2nd MIAA), which ties a program record. The 544 made free throws led the MIAA and are the second most in a single season in MoWest history. MoWest also took excellent care of the basketball throughout last season, ranking No. 2 in the MIAA with a 2.61 turnover margin. The assist-to-turnover ratio (1.37) was second best in the league as well.

Chance at More History
MoWest is now 1-16 in the NCAA tournament all-time with the last win coming in 1990. The Griffs look to snap what's currently a 16-game losing streak in NCAA tournament games. Men's basketball has made it to the NCAA tournament 13 times in history to go with two NAIA national tournament bids. The program has claimed six regular season conference championships and four tournament title championships.

Schedule Breakdown
MoWest then has an early trip to Maryville for the MIAA/NSIC Crossover at Bearcat Arena. The Griffons will take on NSIC foes Southwest Minnesota State and UMary on Nov. 20-21 before one last non-conference home game on Thursday, Dec. 10 against Manhattan Christian.

MoWest opens conference play on Black Friday in Fort Smith, Arkansas, facing Arkansas-Fort Smith on Nov. 27 before going to Northeastern State on Nov. 29.

Men's basketball have their first MIAA home game on Thursday, Dec. 3 against Central Missouri. The men will also host Emporia State, Newman, Missouri Southern, Pittsburg State, Northeastern State, Arkansas-Fort Smith, Northwest Missouri State, Fort Hays State and Nebraska-Kearney. MIAA road games this year include Central Oklahoma, Rogers State, Fort Hays State, Nebraska-Kearney, Northwest, Newman, Pitt State and Missouri Southern.

Opponent Previews - St. Cloud State, Minnesota-Duluth
MoWest opens its home slate against the team that ended their 2025-26 season in the opening round of the NCAA tournament - No. 22 St. Cloud State. Expectations are high for the Huskies, who were picked second in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll. SCSU could be potent again with four of their top five scorers from last season returning. The Huskies opened their season this past Monday with an 81-55 victory at Minnesota-Crookston.

Minnesota-Duluth, like MoWest, is receiving votes in the NABC Coaches' Poll, and are also coming off of an NCAA tournament appearance last season after they won the NSIC Tournament for the first time since 2003. The Bulldogs were picked right behind St. Cloud State in third in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll.

Duluth brings back seven players from last season, while adding five new players, including four freshmen. UMD got its season started off right on Monday with an 80-75 win over Concordia-St. Paul.

Friday marks the third all-time meeting with St. Cloud State. The series is even at 1-1 with the first ever meeting coming back in 2024. Saturday, meanwhile, will be the first ever meeting between MoWest and UMD on the hardwood.

Newcomers - Freshmen
#2 AJ Mason (G, 5-11, 185, Fr., Smithville, MO / Smithville HS)
Two-time first team all-district … 2x first team all Greater Kansas City Suburban Conference selection … ranks second in school history in career assists … broke a school record with 11 steals in a single game … 4x academic letter … Summa Cum Laude honoree … averaged 12 ppg, 4.4 apg, 4.1 rpg, 2.4 spg. His father, Tee, played basketball at MoWest. His mother Stacey was on the MoWest dance team.

#3 Jase Foster (PG, 5-9, 165, Fr., Nixa, MO / Greenwood Laboratory School)
Second team all-conference … holds the school record for most career charges taken … averaged 11.3 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 4.2 apg, 1.3 spg as a senior. His father, Chris, is the head men's basketball coach at Drury and played at Northern Iowa with Brooks McKowen.

#5 Enoch Rodriguez (SG/PG, 6-5, 190, Fr., Overland Park, KS / Blue Valley HS)
Rodriguez was a two-time first team all-Eastern Kansas League … 3x all-state selection … first team all-Valley Center and all-McPherson tournament … he ranks fourth all-time in career scoring at Blue Valley High School, fifth in career rebounding and fourth in career assists … was ranked as the No. 6 prospect in the Class of 2026 per Prep Hoops … averaged 15 ppg, 6.8 rpg and 3 apg as a senior.

#21 Corbin Johnson (G, 6-4, 200, Fr., Wichita, KS / Kapaun Mt. Carmel)
5A Kansas Player of the Year … he shot 48% from three-point range … ranked first in the state of Kansas in three-point percentage for three consecutive seasons … Johnson helped his team win back-to-back state championships for the first time in school history … overall high school record of 89-10 … holds his school record for career made three-pointers (156) … ranks third in his school's history in career scoring (1163) … 2x first team all-state … 4x sub state champion … averaged 19.2 ppg, 4.7 apg, 6 rpg, 2.1 spg, shot 61% from the field and 82% from the free throw line as a senior.

Transfers
#0 Drew Kingery (G, 6-5, 200, RS Jr., Indianola, IA / Indianola HS / Truman State)
Kingery played in 33 games over two seasons at Truman State, and started 28 games for the Bulldogs in 2025-26, averaging 8.4 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1 assist per game. He also shot 50% from the field, including 42% from three.

#4 Cole Marsh (F, 6-6, 225, RS So., Waverly, IA / Waverly-Shell Rock / Kirkwood CC / Iowa)
He made 25 starts at Kirkwood last season, averaging 11 points, 5 rebounds and two assists per game. Marsh started his college career as a walkon tight end for the Iowa Hawkeyes football team in 2024.

#23 Crew Gibson (F, 6-8, 220, Sr., Floyd Knobs, IN / DeSales HS / Indiana Wesleyan / Indiana Tech)
Started 18 game last season at NAIA Indiana Wesleyan, averaging 7.9 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. Was a two-time all WHAC honoree at Indiana Tech, including first team honors in 2024-25. He averaged 14.9 points, 9.1 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.2 blocks per game that season.

#31 Leo Gayman (F, 6-6, 220, So., Kansas City, MO / Park Hill HS / Southwest Baptist)
Gayman spent his freshman season at Southwest Baptist, where he played in 19 games and made 12 starts, averaging 11.7 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game.