SALT LAKE CITY - Westminster men's basketball (6-8, 4-4 RMAC) will return this weekend for a pair of RMAC contests in front of no spectators beginning with Colorado Christian on Friday night and MSU Denver on Saturday night. Both games are scheduled to tip-off at 7 p.m. (MDT) at the Behnken Field House.
Game Info:
- Due to the recent surge in COVID-19 cases within Salt Lake County,
Westminster College has temporarily suspended spectator attendance for
Westminster home basketball games beginning with this weekend's doubleheaders at the Behnken Field House.
- All Westminster basketball games are available to stream for free on the
RMAC Network. Viewers can watch live or on-demand online at rmacnetwork.com/Westminster or on the RMAC Network app, available on all major app stores.
- Westminster College will continue to assess the feasibility of fans for the remainder of the men's and women's basketball seasons.
About the Griffins:
- Westminster snapped a four-game losing skid last weekend in a 73-67 win over Chadron State on the road.
- The Griffins jumped out in front early and led by 21 at halftime after holding Chadron State to just 7-of-23 (30 percent) shooting as a team.
- Four Westminster starters finished in double figures in points in Saturday's win in Chadron and the Griffins pulled in a season-high 41 rebounds as a team.
- Westminster owns the second-best rebounding margin (+5.7) in the conference and have allowed the sixth-fewest points per game (71.2) in the RMAC so far this season.
- The Griffins are 4-4 in conference play heading into the weekend and sit in a three-way tie for sixth in the RMAC.
About the Cougars (4-9, 1-6 RMAC):
- CCU had its two games last weekend postponed due to COVID-19 protocols. The Cougars had been scheduled to host Western Colorado and Fort Lewis.
- The Cougars went 0-2 on New Year's Weekend with road losses at CSU Pueblo and Adams State. CCU is 0-4 in road games to begin the season.
- Ross Willimas is second in the RMAC in scoring at 21.9 PPG. Williams leads the RMAC wil 3.6 3PT FG's made per game.
- The Cougars rank atop the conference, shooting 38 percent as a team from three. CCU's 10.0 made three's per game are the most in the RMAC.
- CCU is 0-7 to begin the season in games decided by nine or fewer points.
- Series History:
- Westminster moved to 9-2 all-time against Colorado Christian with a 66-63 win in Lakewood back in December.
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Brayden Johnson scored a team-high 22 points on 8-of-11 shooting in the Griffins' win back in December.
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Yusuf Mohamed added 19 points that included 9-of-10 shooting at the free throw line and had a pair of clutch made free throws and a go-ahead jumper in the final minute of regulation back in the first matchup.
- Westminster is a perfect 5-0 all-time against the Cougars in Salt Lake City, winning 79-71 in last matchup at Behnken Field House back in December of 2020.
About the Roadrunners (11-2, 5-2 RMAC):
- MSU Denver's matchup with Fort Lewis, originally scheduled for this past Friday, was postponed due to RMAC COVID-19 protocols.
- The Roadrunners are in the midst of a four-game winning streak and have won five of their last six since falling to Westminster at home back on Dec. 4.
- Six-time RMAC Defensive Player of the Week already this season, Laolu Oke has pulled in a conference leading 12.3 rebounds per game while helping MSU Denver hold opponents to a conference-best 65.4 points per game.
- Keyshaad Dixon currently ranks third in the RMAC with 4.2 assists per game while Ra'Shawn Langston is the team's leading scorer with 17.3 ppg over his eight games and six starts.
- Oke is second on the team with 14.5 ppg and Miles Gibson has added 14.2 ppg in the Roadrunners' frontcourt.
- Series History:
- The Griffins, who now lead the series 7-3, won their first game at MSU Denver since 2017 after a 15-point road win back on Dec. 4.
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Yusuf Mohamed went 3-of-4 from three and finished with a season-high 25 points as Westminster outscored the Roadrunners, 48-33, in the second half of this season's conference opener for both teams.
- Westminster is a perfect 4-0 all-time at home against MSU Denver and held on late for a one-point win in the last matchup at Behnken Field House back on Dec. 4, 2020.
RMAC Standings:
Up Next:
Westminster will return to the road next weekend as it heads back to Denver to take on Regis on Friday, Jan. 21, and Colorado School of Mines on Saturday, Jan. 22. The Griffins will then return home for a four-game home stand beginning with Western Colorado on Jan. 28.
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Full Notes PDF
