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Griffons invited to play in the Live United Bowl against Southern Arkansas

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ST. JOSEPH – For the first time since 2012, Griffon Football will play in the postseason. Agent Barry Live United Bowl officials announced Wednesday that Missouri Western will play Southern Arkansas in the bowl game on December 1 in Texarkana, Arkansas.

“Missouri Western State University Football is ecstatic about our opportunity to play in the Agent Barry Live United Bowl,” head coach Matt Williamson said. “To be able to suit up one more time with these incredible men is a privilege beyond belief. Thank you, Allen Brown and the bowl committee for this opportunity. The Griffons will be ready to go!! We talk about change as a team all the time, this opportunity is a program changer.”

In his second season as head coach at Missouri Western, Williamson led Missouri Western to its first winning season (6-5) since 2015. The bowl appearance is the first postseason appearance for the program since reaching the NCAA Division II quarterfinals in 2012. It will be the first bowl appearance for Missouri Western since 2009 when the Griffons defeated Augustana (S.D.) 35-21 in the Mineral Water Bowl.

“We are excited to accept an invitation to play in the Agent Barry Live United Bowl and are appreciative of Allen Brown and the bowl committee for identifying the upward trajectory of our football program,” director of athletics Josh Looney said. “This postseason opportunity will play an important role in our program’s continued development.”

The Griffons will kickoff against Southern Arkansas in at noon on Dec. 1. The Muleriders finished third in the Great American Conference, going 8-3. Southern Arkansas entered the final week of the regular season ranked No. 7 in Super Region 3, but fell 20-17 at Arkansas-Monticello in the regular season finale.

The game will be played at Arkansas High School in Texarkana, Arkansas.

The Agent Barry Live United Bowl is an annual college football bowl game played between two of the top teams at the NCAA Division II level. It is one of only three NCAA Division II sanctioned bowl games. The game features the highest place finisher in the Great American Conference that does not qualify for the Division II playoffs. The at-large opponent is chosen from either the Lone Star Conference or the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.

— MWSU Athletics —

Northwest’s Bruder earns D2CCA First Team All-Central Region honors

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TOPEKA, Kan. — The 2018 Division II Conference Commissioner’s Association all-Central region volleyball team was announced on Wednesday. The teams were voted on by the region’s sports information directors. Nine of the 14 student-athletes selected for the two teams will be in action this weekend at the NCAA Central Regional hosted by Nebraska-Kearney starting on Thursday where seven of the eight teams are ranked in the top 11 of this week’s AVCA National Top 25 poll.

Southwest Minnesota State’s Taylor Reiss was named the Central Region’s Player of the Year for the third-straight season as well as first team all-region as an outside hitter for the third season in a row. Reiss, the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference’s three-time Player of the Year, leads the NSIC in kills with 5.80 per game with 644 total kills. Reiss also leads the nation in attacks per set (14.52), kills per set (5.80), and total kills (644).

Joining Reiss on the first team was senior outside hitter and the MIAA Player of the Year Maddy Bruder from Northwest Missouri State and repeat first team selection from last season senior Taylor Bevis from Central Oklahoma. At middle hitter/block is repeat pick from last season senior Zoe Hardin from Harding and junior Sara Macek from Concordia-St. Paul. The libero/defensive specialist is senior Ellie McDonnell from Nebraska-Kearney and senior Elizabeth Mohr from Concordia-St. Paul was tabbed as the setter.

On the second team at outside hitter was senior Courtney Place from Augustana, junior Morgan Olson from Minnesota State and repeat second-team pick from last season, senior Brooklyn Lewis from Concordia-St. Paul. A pair of sophomores from the MIAA were selected second team at middle hitter/blocker in Allison Maxwell from Washburn and Audrey Fisher from Central Missouri. Southwestern Oklahoma State’s junior Kaitlyn Dillon was tabbed as second team libero/defensive specialist and junior Emily Torve from Minnesota-Duluth was picked at setter.

Overall the NSIC had seven selections and the region player of the year while the MIAA had five picks and the Great American Conference had two honored. Concordia-St. Paul led all schools with three selections while no other team had more than one.

The Division II Conference Commissioners Association encourages and promotes Division II athletics and high standards of sportsmanship as important elements of higher education. The CCA is a key communications link among the conferences as they discuss views, policies and regulations that impact Division II intercollegiate athletics and works closely with the NCAA as a communications channel to NCAA Division II member colleges and universities.

Regional Player of the Year
($) Taylor Reiss, Southwest Minnesota State (5-10 • OH • Taunton, Minn.)

First Team All-Region
OH – (!) Taylor Reiss, Southwest Minnesota State (5-10 • Senior • Taunton, Minn.)
OH – Maddy Bruder, Northwest Missouri (5-11 • Senior • Firth, Neb.)
OH – (@) Taylor Bevis, Central Oklahoma (5-10 • Senior • Wichita, Kan.)
MH/B – (@) Zoe Hardin, Harding (6-3 • Senior • Amarillo, Texas)
MH/B – Sara Macek, Concordia-St. Paul (5-11 • Junior • Monticello, Minn.)
Libero/DS – Ellie McDonnell, Nebraska-Kearney (5-5 • Senior • Papillion, Neb.)
Setter – Elizabeth Mohr, Concordia-St. Paul (5-7 • Senior • Eden Prairie, Minn.)

Second Team All-Region
OH – Courtney Place, Augustana (6-2 • Senior • Okabena, Minn.)
OH – Morgan Olson, Minnesota State (5-11 • Junior, Annandale, Minn.)
OH – (#) Brooklyn Lewis, Concordia-St. Paul (5-10 • Senior • Kasson, Minn.)
MH/B – Allison Maxwell, Washburn (6-1 • Sophomore • Jefferson City, Mo.)
MH/B – Audrey Fisher, Central Missouri (6-0 • Sophomore • Lenexa, Kan.)
Libero/DS – Kaitlyn Dillon, Southwestern Oklahoma State (5-6 • Junior • Edmond, Okla.)
Setter – Emily Torve, Minnesota-Duluth (5-8 • Junior • Loretto, Minn.)

($) – Region Player of the Year in 2016 and 2017
(!) – First Team selection in 2016 and 2017
(@) – First Team selection in 2017
(#) – Second Team selection in 2017

— Northwest Athletics —

Missouri Western women lose at Truman State 84-67

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KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – Missouri Western Women’s Basketball (2-1) lost its first game of the season on the road to their once-MIAA foe Truman (3-0) by a score of 84-67 on Tuesday. It was the third-straight road game for the Griffons before they return to St. Joseph for their home opener on Saturday.

NOTABLES

  • The Griffons shot well right from the opening tip. Missouri Western made five of its six three-point attempts in the first quarter with Katrina Roenfeldt drilling three from deep to give the Griffons a 23-13 lead going into the second period.
  • The two teams reversed roles in the second quarter. The Griffons missed all of their three-point attempts while the Bulldogs shot 60 percent, giving Truman the one-point lead going into halftime.
  • After a back-and-forth third quarter, the Bulldogs pulled away in the final period. Truman closed the game on a 15-3 run to hand Missouri Western its first loss of the early season.
  • Second chance points ended up being what cost Missouri Western the game. The Bulldogs racked up 20 second chance points from their 16 offensive rebounds.
  • The Griffons finished with a 46 percent field goal percentage.
  • The team played its best defense in the first half, holding the Bulldogs to just 34 points.

LEADERS

  • Roenfeldt finished with a career-high 20 points on 64 percent shooting. Her five three-pointers are also a career high.
  • Cera Ledbetter had a productive night with 15 points and a team-high five boards.
  • Dossou Ndiaye was the third Griffon in double-figures with 10 points.

UP NEXT

  • Griffon Women’s Basketball will play Regis in the team’s home opener on Saturday, Nov. 17.
  • The Rangers are currently 1-1 and coming off of a 16-13 season in 2017-18.

— MWSU Athletics —

Chiefs-Rams game moved from Mexico City to LA due to poor field conditions

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — The NFL moved the Rams’ Monday night showdown with the Kansas City Chiefs from Mexico City to Los Angeles on Tuesday due to the poor condition of the field at Azteca Stadium.

The league announced the extraordinary decision six days before one of the most-anticipated regular-season games of the year.

In a news release, the league said it determined that the recently re-sodded field at Mexico City’s historic stadium “does not meet NFL standards for playability and consistency, and will not meet those standards by next Monday.”

The Rams (9-1) will host the Chiefs (9-1) at the Coliseum instead. The much-anticipated game is just the fifth meeting since 1970 between teams with one or fewer losses in Week 11 or later.

The decision creates a morass of logistical concerns for the teams and fans traveling to Mexico, and it disappoints thousands of Mexican fans eager to see a marquee matchup in North America’s most populous city. But the league consulted with the players’ association and local officials before deciding it couldn’t risk the players’ health on a damaged field.

“The combination of a difficult rainy season and a heavy multi-event calendar of events at the stadium have resulted in significant damage to the field that presents unnecessary risks to player safety and makes it unsuitable to host an NFL game,” said Mark Waller, the NFL’s executive vice president of international. “As a result, we have determined that moving the game is the right decision, and one that we needed to announce now in order to allow our teams and fans to make alternate arrangements.”

Azteca officials changed the playing surface from natural grass to a hybrid in May, but the turf hasn’t been ideal for several months. Concern about the field grew in recent days when aerial photos of the stadium showed serious damage to the grass, particularly on the end of the stadium recently used for a major concert.

Cruz Azul, the Liga MX soccer club that shares the stadium with Club America, played a tournament game on the field last Saturday in noticeably poor conditions. Coach Pedro Caixinha expressed concern, and the NFL continued working with groundskeepers to improve the field.

“The long and unusual rain season, as well as the calendar of events with third parties in Estadio Azteca, might be a factor for the grass to be far from optimal conditions,” Azteca Stadium authorities said in a press release.

The Rams are required to keep the Coliseum available as a backup in case of a problem with international games. They immediately announced plans for ticket sales starting Wednesday, with season ticket holders allowed to buy their own seats and up to four more.

The Rams also will give away thousands of seats to first responders and people affected by recent tragedies in Southern California. Deadly wildfires have ravaged several areas near the Rams’ training complex in Thousand Oaks for the past week, and 12 people were killed in a mass shooting in Thousand Oaks last Wednesday night.

The move also creates big logistical obstacles for “Monday Night Football” broadcaster ESPN, which will have to shift its operations back to the West Coast.

“We have been in communication with the NFL and we understand the league’s decision,” the network said in a statement. “We are already in the process of adjusting our plans and will be ready to present this much-anticipated matchup on Monday Night Football from Los Angeles. We also remain committed to identifying future opportunities with the league to engage its already strong fan base in Mexico.”

Azteca hosted the first regular-season game ever held outside the U.S. in 2005 when Arizona beat San Francisco. The stadium has hosted several NFL exhibitions, and the Oakland Raiders, Houston Texans and New England Patriots all played regular-season games there over the past two years.

The Rams played in England in each of the previous two seasons, and they are expected to have another international game next season, as required of teams playing in a temporary home stadium.

Both the Rams and the Chiefs were due to play in Mexico for the first time next week. Kansas City has played just one regular-season game outside the U.S., going to London in 2015.

The Rams are in the third of four seasons at the Coliseum before their new multi-billion-dollar stadium complex in Inglewood opens in 2020. The venerable Coliseum hasn’t hosted a “Monday Night Football” game since October 1985, and the Rams haven’t hosted a game there on a Monday night since 1979, before they moved to Anaheim and then St. Louis.

The Rams traveled to Colorado Springs, Colorado, on Monday to spend their week of practice in high altitudes to prepare for Mexico City’s conditions — and they plan to stay put anyway.

Several players and coaches are still displaced from their homes near their training complex in Thousand Oaks by evacuations due to fire danger, and the Rams already transported the families and friends of many players and employees to Colorado Springs. The Rams currently plan to fly home on the weekend.

— Associated Press —

No. 16 Missouri women hold off Missouri State 65-61

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COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Sophie Cunningham and Grace Berg each scored 12 points and No. 16 Missouri beat Missouri State 65-61 on Tuesday night.

Amber Smith made a jumper from the free-throw line to give Missouri a 55-51 lead with 1:34 to go and Cunningham made two free throws on its next possession for a six-point lead. Missouri State got it within three points on three different occasions after that, the last with two seconds left, but Cunningham sealed it at the line.

Akira Levy added 11 points for Missouri (2-0), which is coming off its third straight NCAA Tournament appearance — going 24-8 for its most wins since 1983-84. Cunningham, who scored 30-plus in her two previous games, was held to 4-of-10 shooting, missing all four of her 3-point attempts.

Missouri coach Robin Pingeton is one win away from 150 at Mizzou and 16 away from 500 career victories.

Danielle Gitzen scored 16 points and Sydney Manning 11 for Missouri State (0-2).

— Associated Press —

16 Griffons earn All-MIAA football honors

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The MIAA released the 2018 All-MIAA Football selections on Tuesday afternoon. Sixteen Griffon football student-athletes were named All-MIAA following the team’s 6-5 season. Missouri Western had eight offensive selections, seven defensive selections, and two on special teams.

Missouri Western had 17 total awards over the 16 players selected, as Brandin Dandridge earned All-MIAA as both a returner and defensive back. All five starters on the offensive line received All-MIAA honors.

ALL-MIAA FIRST TEAM
Hayden Eatinger – OL
Brandin Dandridge – KR/PR

ALL-MIAA SECOND TEAM
Tyler Basch – K
Brandin Dandridge – DB

ALL-MIAA THIRD TEAM
Shawn Rouse – OL
Tanner Hale – OL
Tyler Baska – DL
Jabbar Miles – DB

ALL-MIAA HONORABLE MENTION
Dom Marino – QB
Shamar Griffith – RB
James Bailey Jr. – RB
Jacob Olson – OL
Isaiah Colbert – OL
Kyle Dumler – DL
James Huskey – LB
Anthony Williams – LB
Sam Webb – DB

Hayden Eatinger receives his first All-MIAA First Team selection of his career. Eatinger was named Second Team All-MIAA last season and Honorable Mention All-MIAA as a redshirt-freshman. Eatinger started all 11 games and led a Missouri Western offensive line that averaged 229 yards per game and an MIAA-best 5.6 yards per rush. The Griffon offensive line allowed just six sacks all season, which led the MIAA and was the fifth-best in all of NCAA Division II.

Brandin Dandridge was named First Team All-MIAA as a return specialist and Second Team All-MIAA at defensive back. Dandridge averaged over 13 yards per return with a season-long return of 58 yards in the Griffons’ upset over No. 5 Fort Hays State. Opposing teams began to game plan around Dandridge’s big play threat on punt returns, as his opportunities for returns lessened throughout the year. At defensive back, Dandridge had four interceptions and 11 pass breakups for an MIAA-best 15 passes defended.

Tyler Basch was tabbed Second Team All-MIAA in his last season at Missouri Western. Even with missing three games due to injury, Basch made 10 field goals, with five of those coming from over 30 yards. His season-long came against Fort Hays State at 47 yards.

Shawn Rouse and Tanner Hale were both picked to the All-MIAA Third Team. Both Rouse and Hale started all 11 games on the Griffon offensive line. They helped pave the way for a Griffon offense that amassed over 2500 yards rushing on the season.

Tyler Baska earns All-MIAA Honors in just his second season at Missouri Western. Baska finished the year with 3.5 sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss. He had a season-high nine tackles in the Griffon’s final home game against Lindenwood.

Jabbar Miles rounds out the All-MIAA Third Team at defensive back. Miles was fourth on the team with 67 total tackles and tied for a team-high with four interceptions. Miles was named MIAA Defensive Player of the Week following Missouri Western’s upset over Fort Hays when he had two interceptions and seven total tackles.

Dom Marino earned Honorable Mention as a senior. The dual-threat quarterback finished with over 2000 yards of total offense. Marino led the Griffons in rushing with 681 total yards for an average of over six yards per carry. Marino ended the season with eight passing touchdowns and five rushing touchdowns.

Shamar Griffith and James Bailey Jr. were both named All-MIAA Honorable Mention at running back. Griffith led the team with 6.6 yards per rush and totaled 631 yards on the ground with four touchdowns. Bailey Jr. ran for a team-high nine rushing touchdowns and finished with 652 yards rushing as a freshman.

Receiving All-MIAA honors for the first time in his career is Kyle Dumler. The defensive lineman recorded 3.5 sacks and 30 total tackles. Dumler started all 11 games as a senior.

Linebacker James Huskey earns All-MIAA honors for the second time in his career after missing all of last season with an injury. Huskey was second on the team with 82 tackles and also had three sacks and an interception. Huskey ran back one of the team’s two punt return touchdowns when he snagged a line-drive punt and returned it 27 yards for the score against Fort Hays State.

Joining Huskey is fellow linebacker Anthony Williams. Williams led the Griffons with 89 tackles, including 51 solo tackles. Williams had one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries, including his 50 yard scoop-and-score against Lindenwood in the season finale.

Jacob Olson and Isaiah Colbert also earned Honorable Mention. Joining Eatinger, Rouse, and Hale, all five members of the Missouri Western offensive line received All-MIAA recognition.

Sam Webb was named All-MIAA for the first time in his career. The sophomore started 10 games and had 29 total tackles, with 21 of those being solo tackles. Webb was second on the team with six pass breakups and also had an interception.

— MWSU Athletics —

Braden Wright named MIAA Freshman of Year; 17 Bearcats earn all-MIAA honors

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Northwest Missouri State quarterback Braden Wright is the MIAA Freshman of Year and the Bearcat football is represented by 17 players on the all-MIAA squads released today.

Wright (Elkhorn, Nebraska) has passed for 2,235 yards and 20 touchdowns, while also rushing for 496 yards and 11 touchdowns. His 11 rushing touchdowns are the most by a freshman quarterback in Division II football. He is also one of eight Division II quarterbacks to pass for 2,000 yards with 20 touchdowns and five or fewer interceptions.

Northwest’s first-team all-MIAA selections went to senior defensive end Austen Eskew (Lawson, Missouri), senior offensive tackle Zach Flott (Ralston, Nebraska), senior safety Anthony Lane (Riviera Beach, Florida), sophomore offensive tackle Tanner Owen (Kearney, Missouri) and sophomore defensive tackle Sam Roberts (Waynesville, Missouri).

The Bearcats’s second-team all-MIAA picks were wide receiver/returner Shawn Bane Jr. (Sarasota, Florida), senior linebacker Nick Hess (Liberty, Missouri), senior safety Jack Richards (Lee’s Summit, Missouri) and redshirt freshman quarterback Braden Wright (Elkhorn, Nebraska).

Northwest landed a pair of third-team all-MIAA honorees in junior cornerback Chama Pierre (Lake Worth, Florida) and junior offensive guard Ryan Spelhaug (Bettendorf, Iowa).

The Bearcats had six players tabbed to the all-MIAA honorable mention list in senior linebacker Ben Althoff (Palmyra, Missouri), junior tight end Marqus Andrews (Blue Springs, Missouri), senior running back Josh Caldwell (Lee’s Summit, Missouri), junior defensive end Mike Ehlke (Little Chute, Wisconsin), junior defensive tackle Spencer Phillips (Glenwood, Iowa) and junior running back Isaiah Strayhorn (Chula Vista, California).

FIRST TEAM – BEARCAT BIOS
Austen Eskew – leads the MIAA in sacks and tackles-for-loss … started all 11 games at defensive end … part of a Bearcat defense that ranks No. 1 in the MIAA in total defense, sacks, TFLs, scoring defense, rushing defense, red zone defense, first downs defense and third-down conversion defense … the Bearcat defense ranks No. 3 in the nation in rushing defense … first-team all-MIAA in 2017.

Zach Flott – started all 11 games at right tackle … Northwest featured the No. 1 scoring offense in the MIAA at 36.5 points per game … protected quarterback Braden Wright, which allowed him to pass for 2,235 yards and 20 touchdowns … Northwest rushed for 29 touchdowns and averaged 208.0 yards per game on the ground … second-team all-MIAA pick in 2017.

Anthony Lane – led the squad with nine pass breakups … tied for fifth on the squad with 42 total tackles (30 solos) … started first three games at cornerback and moved to safety where he started final seven games … two-time second-team all-MIAA pick in 2016 and 2017.

Tanner Owen – started all 11 games at left tackle for the MIAA champions … Northwest featured the No. 1 scoring offense in the MIAA at 36.5 points per game … protected quarterback Braden Wright, which allowed him to pass for 2,235 yards and 20 touchdowns … Northwest rushed for 29 touchdowns and averaged 208.0 yards per game on the ground.

Sam Roberts – ranks third in MIAA in sacks and TFLs … registered seven tackles and two sacks in a 41-0 win over Emporia State … led the squad with eight quarterback hurries … honorable mention all-MIAA pick in 2017.

SECOND TEAM – BEARCAT BIOS
Shawn Bane Jr. – led Northwest in receptions (41), receiving yards (692) and receiving touchdowns (5) … posted a season-high 102 yards receiving vs. Missouri Western … caught at least two passes in every game … returned a punt 88 yards for a touchdown against Missouri Southern … also returned a punt 56 yards for a touchdown against Fort Hays State … scored seven total touchdowns … second-team all-MIAA pick in 2016 and 2017 … MIAA freshman of the year in 2015 … first-team all-MIAA kick/punt returner in 2015.

Nick Hess – Started all 11 games at linebacker … tied for fifth on the team with 42 total tackles … has eight TFLs and 2.5 sacks … season-high nine tackles vs. Nebraska-Kearney … part of a Bearcat defense that ranks No. 1 in the MIAA in total defense, sacks, TFLs, scoring defense, rushing defense, red zone defense, first downs defense and third-down conversion defense … the Bearcat defense ranks No. 3 in the nation in rushing defense … third-team all-MIAA in 2017.

Jack Richards – started all 11 games at safety .. led the Bearcats in tackles (80) … ranked second on the team with two interceptions … part of a Bearcat defense that ranks No. 1 in the MIAA in total defense, sacks, TFLs, scoring defense, rushing defense, red zone defense, first downs defense and third-down conversion defense … the Bearcat defense ranks No. 3 in the nation in rushing defense.

Braden Wright – his 11 rushing scores is tied for second in the nation among all quarterbacks … he ranks third in the nation among all freshmen in rushing touchdowns … one of eight quarterbacks with 2,000 yards passing, 20 touchdowns and five or fewer interceptions … ranks third in the nation among freshmen in points responsible for (186).

THIRD TEAM – BEARCAT BIOS
Chama Pierre – appeared in nine games and made seven starts at cornerback … ranks second on the squad with seven pass breakups … credited with 14 tackles (12 solos) … one tackle-for-loss … tallied four pass breakups vs. Nebraska-Kearney … posted a season-high four tackles vs. Fort Hays State.

Ryan Spelhaug – started all 11 games at right guard … Northwest featured the No. 1 scoring offense in the MIAA at 36.5 points per game … protected quarterback Braden Wright, which allowed him to pass for 2,235 yards and 20 touchdowns … Northwest rushed for 29 touchdowns and averaged 208.0 yards per game on the ground.

HONORABLE MENTION – BEARCAT BIOS
Ben Althoff – Started and played in eight games while battling injuries … recorded 28 tackles (13 solos) … two TFLs and a quarterback sack … posted a seaso-high six tackles vs. Fort Hays State … a first-team all-MIAA pick in 2017.

Marqus Andrews – ranked third on the team with three touchdown receptions … ranked fifth on the squad with 16 receptions … caught a season-high four passes, including a touchdown at Central Missouri … tallied a season-high 46 receiving yards, including a 25-yard score at Lindenwood.

Josh Caldwell – second on the squad in rushing yards (659) and rushing touchdowns (9) … caught 12 passes for 48 yards and two touchdowns … ranks No. 7 among active Div. II running backs with 3,281 rushing yards … has rushed for 33 career touchdowns … posted 16 career 100-yard games (15 for Missouri Western and 1 for Northwest) … named the MIAA co-offensive player of the week after he rushed for a season-high 182 and three rushing scores, plus two receptions for 24 yards and a receiving touchdown at Central Missouri.

Mike Ehlke – started all 11 games at defensive end … tallied 25 total tackles (14 solos) … credited with seven tackles-for-loss and four quarterback sacks … posted a season-high seven tackles vs. Nebraska-Kearney.

Spencer Phillips – started all 11 games at nose guard … tied for third on the team in total tackles (44) … 21 solo stops … ranked third on the squad with 8.0 tackles-for-loss … registered 2.5 sacks … forced a fumble … credited with five quarterback hurries … had a season-high seven tackles at Pittsburg State.

Isaiah Strayhorn – leads Northwest in rushing yards (688) … named the MIAA player of the week after rushing for 147 yards on only 11 carries in a 31-7 win at Pittsburg State … rushed for two scores in a 38-17 victory at Lindenwood … scored five rushing touchdowns in 2018.

— Northwest Athletics —

Griffons’ Hightower selected as MIAA Player of the Week

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A stellar start to the 2018-19 season pushed Missouri Western senior Lavon Hightower to MIAA Men’s Basketball Athlete of the Week honors.

The senior averaged 20.8 points and 8.3 rebounds per game while helping Missouri Western to a 3-1 start, the program’s best in five years. Hightower scored 26 points in each of the Griffons’ first two games, both against teams receiving votes in the NABC preseason top-25 poll. He posted a double-double in his third game of the season, scoring 15 and adding 10 rebounds in a win over Winona State.

Through four games this season, Hightower shot 46 percent from the field, 42 percent from three-point range and 85 percent at the free throw line. He averaged eight rebounds per game and added three blocked shots and seven assists. The Charlotte, North Carolina native was named to the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic All-Tournament team where he led all scorers in a field that featured three top-15 teams and three others receiving votes.

Dating back to last season, Hightower has scored at least 13 points in 15-straight games, averaging 20.2 points and 6.3 rebounds over that span.

Missouri Western is on back in action Saturday as they travel to Rolla, Missouri for a game against Missouri S&T.  The tip off is at 3:00 p.m. and it’ll air on 680 KFEQ.

— MWSU Athletics —

Vick leads No. 2 Kansas past Vermont 84-68

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LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Lagerald Vick was 8 of 8 from beyond the 3-point arc and scored a career-high 32 points, Udoka Azubuike added 23 points and 10 rebounds, and second-ranked Kansas slogged its way to an 84-68 victory over Vermont on Monday night.

The Jayhawks (2-0) were jumped by Duke for the top spot in the AP poll earlier in the day, even though they beat then-No. 10 Michigan State in the Champions Classic last week. And for most of their game against the Catamounts (1-1), they did little to prove the voters wrong.

Kansas led just 40-36 at halftime before two big runs allowed coach Bill Self to breathe easy.

Anthony Lamb had 24 points, Ernie Duncan added 17 and Stef Smith scored 13 for the Catamounts, who have lost nine straight to ranked teams dating to a win over Boston College in 2006.

The Catamounts looked as if that streak might end when they went on an early 18-4 run, hitting a series of quick 3-pointers while double-teaming Azubuike on defense whenever he got the ball.

The Jayhawks’ 7-footer still muscled his way to 12 first-half points.

But while the Catamounts sent waves of bodies at Azubuike inside, and made fellow Kansas forward Dedric Lawson a non-factor, they didn’t account for Vick on the perimeter.

After struggling mightily in the Jayhawks’ season-opening win over the Spartans, Vick poured in four first-half 3s and piled up 16 points. Most of them came while the Jayhawks struggled to run offense through their two freshman guards, Devon Dotson and Quentin Grimes.

Eventually, the Jayhawks’ depth and talent wore down Vermont.

It was 44-40 before Azubuike added another of his rim-rattling dunks and then scored on a putback. Vick followed a jumper with his sixth 3-pointer and added his seventh a couple of minutes later as the Jayhawks’ lead swelled to 61-45 midway through the second half.

Vermont went on one last run to get its deficit under 10, but Azubuike added two more baskets and Vick curled in his eighth 3-pointer. That matched Mario Chalmers for the most in the Self era at Kansas and left Vick trailing only Terry Brown, who hit 11 in a game in 1991.

Vick finished 12 of 14 from the field in helping Kansas win its 46th straight home opener.

BIG PICTURE

Vermont: The favorites to win America East did nothing to diminish their outlook, standing toe-to-toe with the reigning Big 12 champs for nearly 30 minutes. In a league where they should match up better physically, keep an eye on Vermont to roll toward another NCAA Tournament appearance.

Kansas: Lawson followed his excellent debut against the Spartans, when he had 20 points and 14 boards, with a dud at the Phog. The transfer from Memphis and the Big 12’s preseason player of the year was held scoreless on 0-for-6 shooting.

UP NEXT

Vermont plays its home opener against Northern Vermont-Lyndon on Wednesday night.

Kansas plays Louisiana on Friday night before heading to New York for the NIT semifinals.

— Associated Press —

Bearcats’ Caldwell earns MIAA Co-Offensive Player of the Week

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Northwest Missouri State senior running back Josh Caldwell has been honored as this week’s MIAA co-offensive player of the week. Caldwell shared the honor with Emporia State quarterback Braxton Marstall.

Caldwell (Lee’s Summit, Missouri) rushed for 182 yards and scored four touchdowns in Northwest’s 48-21 road victory over Central Missouri.

On the first drive of the game, Caldwell carried three times for 52 yards and eventually scored on a 1-yard run with 12:58 left in the first quarter.

He scored his second touchdown of the game on a 20-yard screen pass from Braden Wright with 7:19 left in the second quarter.

Caldwell burst through for a 34-yard touchdown run in the third quarter to give Northwest a 31-0 lead over UCM.

Caldwell scored his final touchdown of the game on a 22-yard run with 1:41 left in the third quarter giving the Bearcats a commanding 45-0 lead over the Mules. Caldwell tallied 206 all-purpose yards vs. the Mules.

Caldwell recorded his first 100-yard rushing game for the Bearcats after posting 15 for Missouri Western from 2015-2017.

— Northwest Athletics —

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