LIBERTY, Mo. - The William Jewell men's basketball team heads to the eastern side of the state this week for two rematches. The Cardinals will take on McKendree on Thursday evening before getting another shot at Maryville on Saturday afternoon.

THE SERIES
Jewell is 7-6 all-time against McKendree, after a big 77-55 win back on November 28, snapping a four-game losing streak. The Cardinals will look to avenge an early season loss to Maryville after falling 59-51 in late November. Jewell is 9-7 all-time against the Saints.    
 

CARDINAL NOTES
The Cardinals are coming off a big road win on Saturday as they traveled to Missouri S&T and held the GLVC's top offense to nearly 24 points below their average, defeating the Miners 77-60.  

Kobe McKinley put together a career day against Missouri S&T pouring in 30 points on 11-of-14 from the floor and 4-of-5 from three point land after coming into the game with just one three point field goal all season. This was the 11th 30-point game of the NCAA era and 150th in program history. 

Heri Tshiyoyo picked up his sixth double-double last weekend with 13 points and 10 rebounds while also grabbing three steals. The big man is tops in the GLVC with 9.2 rebounds per game in conference play, including 45 on the offensive end, 12 more than the next player in the league. His total 194 total rebounds this season not only leads the conference but is 14th nationally. 

Mason Alexander scored a dozen on Saturday to move his career total to 1,333 points and officially join the top-25 chart. Averaging 12 points per game this season, he is on pace to get into the top-20 by season's end. The senior came into the program as a pure shooter but has evolved into one of the top distributors in the league as well, entering the week ranked eighth with 3.3 assists per game. His 70 assists this season are already a career best and place him in a tie with Vernon Howard (1984-86) for 17th all-time with 303. 

Jewell is currently tied for third in the regular season standings and sits third overall in the GLVC's Point Rating System, which determines seeds for the postseason tournament. The Cardinals enter the weekend with an 8-5 conference record, including four wins on the road. Jewell will set a new high mark in the GLVC era with a fifth conference road win.

The Cardinals are top-5 in the conference in 10 statistical categories, including three point field goal defense, which they lead, allowing opponents just 32.4%, including just 31.2% in league games, whille also ranking third offensively at 36.6% from behind the arc.