Missouri Western cruises past Kansas Christian with balanced attack
By Calvin Silvers
In front of a rowdy crowd of roughly 2,548 elementary and middle school students at the MWSU Fieldhouse, the Missouri Western Griffons men’s basketball team delivered a record-breaking performance Wednesday afternoon, defeating Kansas Christian College 114-60 in non-conference action.
The 114 points marked the program’s highest scoring output since 2001 and the most under head coach Will Martin. It also represented the largest margin of victory in the Martin era.
“We obviously just took one on the chin last week to Emporia, and I was really grateful that the universe gave us this game today,” Martin said. “Trading expectation for appreciation because we have so much to be grateful for.”
Trailing 12-7 early, the Griffons quickly found their rhythm. Fueled by sharp shooting and relentless defensive pressure, Western took a commanding 50-30 lead into halftime. The second half saw no slowdown, as the Griffons added 64 points and showcased their depth, with all 12 players who entered the game tallying points.
“It’s a testament to how connected we all are,” guard Josh Book said. “No one is being selfish, everyone was sharing the ball, that was really nice.”
Book came off the bench to score a season-high 14 points, including a perfect 4-for-4 from beyond the arc. Western’s balanced attack featured seven players in double figures, led by Julius Dixon’s 16 points and five rebounds. Zane Nelson contributed 15 points and six assists, while local athlete Ethan Kilgore chipped in 11 points.
The Griffons shot 58.4% from the field, including 56% (14-of-25) from three-point range, and dominated the boards with a 49-21 rebounding advantage. They also controlled the paint, outscoring Kansas Christian 60-24, and capitalized on second-chance opportunities, holding a 31-4 edge in second-chance points.
“At the end of the first half, we got ten stops in a row,” Martin said. “They didn’t score a field goal in the last 10 minutes, and I thought that’s where we kind of turned the page.”
The lopsided win allowed Martin to give valuable minutes to his bench, who played within the team’s system despite the large lead.
“What I was proud of was that they stayed within what we do while they were out there,” Martin said. “It’s really hard when you have a big lead and don’t get to play much to stay in the flow, but they did.”
For Kilgore, a St. Joseph native, the game was a full-circle moment.
“I can’t stop smiling now,” Kilgore said. “It’s so fun and so cool to feel like you’re having an impact on that many kids. They were awesome today—they were loud and did exactly what we wanted them to do.”
The Griffons will look to build on their momentum Saturday when they host Truman State at 3:30 p.m.
