Preview: Missouri State-West Plains at Moberly Area

MOBERLY, Mo. (Interstat) — A stark contrast in trajectories will be on display Saturday when the Moberly Area Greyhounds host the Missouri State-West Plains Grizzlies in a men’s junior college basketball matchup.

Moberly Area (10-1) enters the contest as one of the region’s hottest teams, its lone blemish a narrow 70-67 road loss to Three Rivers on Wednesday. Prior to that, the Greyhounds had reeled off ten consecutive victories, including quality wins over John A. Logan, Southwestern Illinois and Wabash Valley. Their success has been built on consistent defense, holding opponents to an average of 66.5 points during the win streak.

Conversely, Missouri State-West Plains (3-6) seeks to build momentum from its most recent performance, a 92-84 victory at Kaskaskia on Dec. 7. That win snapped a two-game skid for the Grizzlies, who have struggled defensively, allowing an average of 96.2 points in their six losses.

The Grizzlies will rely on the trio that powered their last win. Javon Barbee recorded a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds, Shunderrius Glass added a team-high 22 points, and Ace Evans chipped in 23 points. However, sustaining that offensive output against a stout Moberly Area defense presents a significant challenge.

This game marks the first of two regular-season meetings between the teams this season. They will meet again in West Plains on Jan. 28 and conclude the series back in Moberly on Feb. 14.

For the Greyhounds, the focus will be on bouncing back from their first defeat and reasserting their defensive identity. For the Grizzlies, the task is to string together consecutive wins for the first time this season and find a way to slow down a balanced Moberly Area attack.

Tipoff is set for Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, at the Moberly Area Community College campus.