The era of Head Men’s Basketball Coach Sundance Wicks began with a nail-biting 78-76 loss to Tarleton State in the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic at the St. Joseph Civic Arena on Nov. 3, but the Griffons came back with an 80-73 win against Fairmont State University on Nov. 4.
In the first game, Tarleton State made two free throws with 10 seconds remaining to break a 76-76 tie and Lavon Hightower’s attempt at his fifth three-pointer of the game went off the rim at the buzzer. In the Nov. 4 game, Missouri Western erased a nine-point deficit with an 18-7 run over a five-minute period in the second half. The Griffons never trailed again and scored its final six points of the game at the free throw line.
The Griffons play again next weekend in the Civic Arena, when they host the 27th annual Hillyard Tip-off Classic. Play for Missouri Western starts at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9 against Winona State University. They play again at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 10 against Upper Iowa University.
The team’s first game in the Looney arena will be at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 6 against Lindenwood University.