Griffins Set to Host South Dakota Schools
The Westminster men's basketball team is back in the Behnken Field House this weekend as they host a pair of Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference games. The Griffins will welcome South Dakota Mines to town on Friday. The action will continue on Saturday with a contest against Black Hills State.
 
Both games will tipoff at 7:30 p.m. MST in the Behnken Field House on the Westminster College campus. Tickets for the games are now available at WestminsterGriffins.com/tickets.
 
The RMAC network will carry both of the games this week live on the online channel. Mike Lageschulte calls the play-by-play and is joined by head coach Norm Parrish during the pregame show. Live stats are also available during each game. Links for all live features are available at WestminsterGriffins.com/live.
 
About the Griffins
Westminster is back at home with a 7-6 overall record after a road sweep for the first time this season over the weekend. They are currently fifth in the RMAC standings with a 7-4 mark in league games. The Griffins have gone 3-1 at home during the year.
 
The Griffins are currently averaging 73.0 points per game to rank 11th in the RMAC. They sit sixth in the conference by shooting 46.3 percent from the field and fifth by connecting on 40.8 percent from beyond the arc. The Griffins make 6.5 threes per outing. They also sit third in the conference in foul shooting at 76.7 percent.
 
Both Dayon Goodman and Zerrion Payton are inside the RMAC's top-20 in scoring average. Goodman is scoring 15.8 points per game to sit 11th in the conference with Payton adding 14.5 per game to rank 16th. Travis Devashrayee leads the RMAC by making 64.3 percent from three while Payton is fifth at 48.5 percent.
 
Westminster is allowing 68.3 points per game to place them third in the RMAC. The Griffins lead the RMAC by holding opponents to 40.0 percent shooting and they are allowing 34.7 percent from three. The Griffins are grabbing 33.5 rebounds per game and they average 13.2 assists per game. They are second in the conference by blocking 3.8 shots per game and they record 5.5 steals per night.
 
Goodman leads the team with 91 rebounds and is sixth in the RMAC at 7.0 rebounds per game. Payton leads the team with 47 assists and 14 steals. His 3.6 assists per game are ninth most in the RMAC. Goodman is second in the conference at 1.5 blocks per game while Marcus Bryce averages 1.4 blocks per game to place fourth.
 
Count on 10
In this 18th season of the current era of men's basketball, Westminster teams have recorded a double-digit win total every season. They have recorded a winning record in every year except two (1999-00 and 2014-15) with 12 seasons recording at least 20 wins. There have been 34 seasons with 10-plus wins in the 40 years of program history, including 30 winning seasons.
 
Block Party
Westminster has tallied 50 blocked shots as a team this season with multiple blocks in 11 of their last 13 games played. They currently rank second in the RMAC by blocking 3.8 shots per game, an average that would set a new school record. The team is on pace for 92 blocks this season, which would be a new school record.
 
Rare Road Sweep
Westminster picked up a pair of road wins during the same weekend of conference play last weekend for the first time this season. Over the past two seasons, the Griffins have two sweeps, five splits, and they were swept one time during weekend road trips in RMAC play. They have two more weekend doubleheaders remaining on the schedule this season.
 
Player of the Week
Junior Dayon Goodman was named the RMAC Offensive Player of the Week on Monday after averaging 20.5 points and 8.0 rebounds during the Griffins two road wins last weekend. Goodman leads the Griffins in scoring at 15.8 points per game on the season and he collects a team-high 7.0 rebounds per night. He has scored in double figures in 10 games with three 20-point outings, including 22 at Chadron State last Friday.
 
Mr. Everything
After leading the team in scoring and being named second team all-conference last season, Zerrion Payton is scoring 14.5 points per game this season.  He leads the Griffins with 47 assists and has added 66 rebounds, 14 steals, and five blocked shots. Payton has scored in double figures 11 times this season with a pair of 20-point performances.
 
Opponent Info: South Dakota Mines
• South Dakota Mines comes to town at 10-9 overall and 2-7 on the road.
• The Hardrockers are 6-7 in RMAC play to rank eighth in the conference.
• Konor Kulas is seventh in the RMAC by scoring 17.6 points per game.
• SD Mines leads the all-time series 2-0 with both meetings coming last season.
• They defeated the Griffins in SLC, 68-63, in overtime last January.
 
Opponent Info: Black Hills State
• Black Hills State will visit SLC at 5-14 overall and losers of seven straight.
• The Yellow Jackets are 2-11 in conference to sit in 15th.
• Fraser Malcolm (12.5) and Zach McLemore (12.4) lead the team in scoring.
• BHSU leads the all-time series 2-0 after sweeping two meetings last season.
• The Jackets won 68-63 in the Behnken Field House last January.
 
Following the Griffins
Make sure to like Westminster Griffins on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and You Tube for the latest news about the Griffins. Game updates are provided on Twitter by following @wc_griffins. Fans can stay connected with Westminster men's basketball by following @griffinbasketball on Instagram.
 
Looking Ahead
Westminster is back on the road the next two weekends to play four games. They will be at UCCS on January 27 and then visit MSU Denver on January 28. Both of those games will be broadcast live on the RMAC Network.