The Missouri Western men’s basketball team is off to a 1-1 start in the MIAA and are 3-4 overall losing three of its last four games. The Griffons defeated the Pittsburg State Gorillas last Wednesday in the fieldhouse by a score of 94-79 and then fell on the road against the Emporia State Hornets 91-69 last Saturday. The Missouri Southern Lions are off to a hot start winning its first six games which includes its first two MIAA games. The Lions opened the MIAA schedule defeating the Truman State Bulldogs last Wednesday in Kirksville, Mo. by a score of 91-74 and then beat the Central Missouri Mules 78-61 last Saturday in Joplin, Mo.
In the Top 6:
Both the Griffons and the Lions have two players that rank in the top 6 in scoring in the MIAA. Jonathan Phelps is 2nd in the league averaging 22.3 points per game while P’Allen Stinnett is sixth dumping in 18.3 points per contest. The Lions Skyler Bowlin and Jason Adams are third and fourth respectively with Bowling scoring 20.2 points and Adams scoring 18.5 points per game.
Recent struggles in Leggett & Platt Athletic Center:
Since the 2000-2001 season the Griffons are just 3-7 against the Lions in Joplin, Mo. The Griffons have lost seven of the last eight games which includes a 79-75 loss last year on February 6, 2010. Dominique Thuston, Marcus Rhodes, James Bush and Quentin Noblin dumped in 21, 18, 16 and 12 points respectively. Mariun Price had 18 points while Jason Adams, Skyler Bowlin and Keane Thomann dumped in 16, 15 and 12 respectively. Adams also snared 13 rebounds in the contest.
Last victory for the Griffon in Joplin:
The Griffons have lost four straight games in Joplin. The last victory for the Griffons in Leggett & Platt Athletic Center came on January 28, 2006 when they defeated the Lions 80-63. Damarius Bolds led the charge scoring 27 points on 10-of-13 shooting. Jason Warren scored 17 points while J.R. Reed dumped in 13. The Lions were led by Quentin Edwards and Dan Jones with 13 and 10 respectively.
Scouting the Griffons:
So far this season the Griffons are averaging 81.0 points per contest but giving up 83.1 points per game. Western is shooting 47.2-percent (192-407) from the field and 38.2-percent (73-191) from long range. Western is shooting free throws well making 69.2-percent (110-159) of its chances. The Griffons have been outrebounded 35.4 to 39.9 per game but have 114 assists on its 192 field goals. The Griffons have blocked 26 shots and have 51 steals on the season. Jonathan Phelps leads the way for Western with 22.3 points per game while P’Allen Stinnett is dumping 18.3 points per contest and TJ Johnson is scoring 14.3 points a game. Johnson leads the Griffons on the boards averaging 7.3 per game. Stinnett has 30 assists and 13 steals on the season while Johnson has dished out 28 assists. Johnson is shooting 50.5-percent (30-57) from the field while Jeffrey West has made 50.0-percent (7-of-14) of his long range shots. Johnson has made 38-of-50 free throw attempts while Stinnett has connected on 19-of-25 attempts.
The Series:
This will mark the 78th overall meeting between the schools with the Griffons holding a 41-36 advantage. The two teams have split their last four meetings with each team winning both games at home. Both teams have a commanding lead in the series at home with the Griffons leading at home 30-9 while the Lions lead 27-11 in Joplin.
The Coaches vs. Each program:
Coach Tom Smith is 24-18 against the Lions. Smith is 16-4 at home but the Griffons are just 7-11 when traveling to the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center. Missouri Southern head coach Robert Corn is just 17-23 overall against the Griffons since becoming the Lions head coach in the 1989 season (just one season after Smith joined the Griffons).
About the Opponent:
The Lions are off to an hot start winning their first six contest. The Lions opened the season with a convincing 75-53 victory against Northeastern State on November 15. Jason Adams led the way with 22 points and seven rebounds. The Lions then defeated Central Bible 79-51 and College of the Ozarks 76-62. Adams scored 26 against Central Bible while Bowlin dumped in 28 against College of the Ozarks. The Lions then hit the road for two games one against Arkansas-Fort Smith were they came away with a 75-70 victory on November 24 with Bowling dumping in 15 points. The Lions then defeated Truman State in the MIAA opener in Kirksville, Mo. on Wednesday, December 1 by a score of 91-74. Bowling continued his torrid scoring pace dumping in 34. MSSU returned home for a match up against national ranked Central Missouri last Saturday. The Lions held the Mules to 19 second half points on the way to the 78-61 victory behind 21 points from Bowlin. The Lions are 4-0 at home and 2-0 on the road this season. Southern is scoring 79 points per game and giving up just 61.8. They are shooting 48.7-percent (181-372) from the field and 36.1-percent (35-97) from long range. They have struggled from the free throw line making just 77-of-119 charity shots. They have outrebounded their opponents 36.2 to 32.5 per game and have 112 assists to go along with 71 steals. Bowlin leads the charge scoring 20.2 points per game while Jason Adams and Keane Thomann have chipped in 18.5 and 13.5 per game respectively. Thomann leads the way on the boards snaring 7.7 per game while Adams has snared 4.7 per game. Bowling has 31 assists and 20 steals on the season.
Second Half Struggles:
The Missouri Western men’s basketball team has struggled in the second half this season getting outscored 341 to 314. The Griffons have been outscored in the second half in four of its five games which includes three of the four losses.
Shooting the long ball:
The Griffons average 10.4 three points baskets a game. Western has made 38.2-percent (73-191) from beyond the arc. The Griffons are led by Jonathan Phelps sinking 45.1-percent (32-71) from long range. P’Allen Stinnett has made 13-of-32 from long range which included seven against Avila. Jeffrey West has made 7-of-14 from long distance. Phelps tied the MWSU record for most long range shots in a game last Saturday against the Hornets making 8-of-15 attempts.
Double-Doubles:
TJ Johnson has recorded two double-doubles on the season coming against Avila and Central Oklahoma. Johnson had 17 points and 11 rebounds in both contests. Johnson has scored in double figures in six of the Griffons seven games.
Sixth Man:
Phelps had been a spark plug off the bench scoring in double figures in all seven games which included a career and season high 31 against Emporia State. Phelps has led the Griffons in scoring in five games. He has scored twenty or more points in five of the Griffons seven contests.
Griffon Success when scoring 90 or more points:
Western has scored 90 or more points in three games this season. When the Griffons score 90+ points they are 3-0 with victories coming against Avila, Quincy and Pittsburg State. When they score 90 or less points the Griffons are 0-4. Western has had a 20 points scorer in all seven games this season.
Griffon Success when giving up 90 or more points:
When the Griffons give up 90 or more points they are 0-2 this season. The Griffons lost to 10th ranked Central Oklahoma 92-86 and to Emporia State 91-69.
Countdown to 600:
Missouri Western men’s basketball coach Thomas Smith is just ten wins away from 600 in his career. With 10 more wins this season Smith will achieve yet another milestone.
Coming up next:
The Griffons will return home on Saturday, December 11 to take on the 14th ranked Fort Hays State Tigers in St. Joseph, Mo. Game time is set for 3:30 pm in the MWSU Feildhouse. Western upset the Tigers last season by a score of 75-69 at home on February 1, 2010. The Tigers were ranked 3rd in the country at that time.
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