QUINCY, Ill. – The Quincy University men's basketball team opens the 2026-27 season Monday, November 9, welcoming Missouri Western State University to Pepsi Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 PM.
Quincy enters year three under head coach Brad Hoyt after finishing last season 12-16 overall and 7-13 in GLVC play. The Hawks finished 12th in the conference standings and went 7-8 at Pepsi Arena.
Missouri Western is coming off a 21-12 season and a 12-7 mark in the MIAA, finishing fourth in the conference while going 8-5 away from home.
Both teams enter Monday with significant roster turnover, setting up an early test between two programs looking to establish new identities.
Hawks Enter Year Three Under Hoyt
Hoyt begins his third season leading Quincy after guiding the Hawks to records of 10-18 and 12-16 during his first two years.
Quincy was picked to finish 10th out of 15 teams in the GLVC Preseason Poll after closing last season at 7-13 in conference play.
The Hawks return just six players from last season's roster, including two primary starters, while welcoming six transfers and three freshmen.
For a full in-depth look at the 2026-27 Quincy roster, click HERE.
Bolton, Wallingford Lead Returning Core
With last year's top two scorers no longer on the roster, Quincy will lean heavily on the experience of Ethan Bolton and Jakeb Wallingford.
Bolton returns after averaging 13.1 points and 6.8 rebounds per game last season while shooting 52.6 percent from the field.
The sophomore appeared in all 28 games and started 25, finishing third on the team in scoring while leading Quincy in rebounding.
Wallingford started all 28 contests and averaged 7.3 points and 6.2 rebounds while shooting 52.7 percent from the floor.
The senior also provided a strong defensive presence around the rim, finishing with 35 blocks, which ranked second in the GLVC.
Together, Bolton and Wallingford give Quincy two experienced frontcourt pieces as the Hawks replace the production of Tiernan Stynes and Camren Kincaid, who combined to average 28.9 points per game last season.
New Faces Expected to Play Major Roles
Beyond Bolton and Wallingford, Quincy will rely on several players stepping into larger roles.
Returning guards Herb Martin, Owen Duff and Trace Combs, along with forward Preston Brewer, provide additional familiarity within Hoyt's system.
The Hawks also added six transfers in Justin Duff, Navontae Nesbit Jr., Sam Bradford, Jeremiah Falko, Myles Liddell and Gus McCrary.
Freshmen Bryson Mossman, Jace Allensworth and Tyler Thompson round out a group that gives Quincy several new options across the backcourt and wing positions.
With nine newcomers on the roster, Monday will provide the first opportunity to see how the pieces fit together in regular-season action.
Scouting Missouri Western
Missouri Western enters the season with considerably higher preseason expectations.
The Griffons were picked to finish third out of 14 teams in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll and are receiving votes in the NABC Division II Coaches Poll with 17 points.
Missouri Western is coming off its first 20-win season in more than two decades after finishing 21-12.
Head coach Brooks McKowen enters his second season leading the program after immediately guiding the Griffons back to the NCAA Tournament.
McKowen is also familiar with the GLVC after spending 12 seasons at Upper Iowa, where he won more than 200 games and became the program's all-time wins leader.
Griffons Reload After 21-Win Season
Missouri Western returns seven players from last year's roster but must replace its top three scorers.
Noah King, Ty Henry and Marko Pavlovic combined to average 41.7 of Missouri Western's 81.5 points per game last season. King led the Griffons at 15.5 points per game, followed by Henry at 13.9 and Pavlovic at 12.3.
Their departures leave a significant amount of scoring and usage to replace.
The Griffons return two regular starters in William Kiburis and Gavin Hershberger.
Kiburis averaged 11.0 points and 6.0 rebounds per game while shooting 57.4 percent from the floor and 45.0 percent from three. Hershberger averaged 8.6 points per game, made 53 three-pointers and added 76 assists.
Missouri Western also added four freshmen and four transfers, giving McKowen a roster that, like Quincy, will feature several new faces in important roles.
Rebounding vs. Ball Security
One of the more interesting contrasts from last season comes in the areas of rebounding and turnovers.
Quincy finished third in the GLVC with a plus-4.0 rebounding margin, averaging 36.5 rebounds per game. Missouri Western finished with a minus-1.3 rebounding margin while averaging 34.1 rebounds.
The Griffons, however, were one of the nation's best teams at taking care of the basketball.
Missouri Western averaged just 10.1 turnovers per game, the best mark in the MIAA and one of the top totals in Division II. The Griffons also finished second in the conference with a plus-2.6 turnover margin.
Quincy averaged 14.2 turnovers per game and finished last in the GLVC at minus-3.5 in turnover margin.
That contrast could become one of the most important early-season battles Monday.
Last Year's Meeting
The teams met last season in St. Joseph, Missouri, where Missouri Western escaped with an 82-80 victory.
Quincy shot better from the field, three-point range and free-throw line, but the Griffons created enough extra opportunities to overcome those differences.
The Hawks shot 46.9 percent from the field and 36.0 percent from three, while Missouri Western finished at 42.9 percent overall and 23.3 percent from deep.
The Griffons grabbed 17 offensive rebounds and finished with a 38-32 rebounding advantage while scoring 22 second-chance points compared with 14 for Quincy. Missouri Western also committed only 10 turnovers.
Quincy trailed 78-71 with under four minutes remaining before making a late push.
The Hawks pulled within two at 80-78 with 1:13 left and forced a turnover on Missouri Western's next possession. Quincy had a chance to tie the game in the final seconds but missed a layup with 13 seconds remaining.
Missouri Western then converted two free throws before Quincy scored on a tip-in at the buzzer for the final 82-80 margin.
Several returning players contributed in that matchup.
Wallingford finished with seven points, eight rebounds and three blocks, while Bolton added six points. Martin scored 11 points off the bench for Quincy.
For Missouri Western, Hershberger scored 10 points while Kiburis finished with eight points and five rebounds.
Series History
Missouri Western leads the series against Quincy 4-3 dating back to 2007.
The Griffons took the most recent meeting with last season's 82-80 victory in St. Joseph. Prior to that matchup, the programs had not faced one another since 2018, when Quincy earned a 76-63 victory.
Quincy holds a 2-1 advantage at home against Missouri Western and will look to even the overall series Monday night at Pepsi Arena.
Season-Opening History
Quincy opened last season with an 89-80 victory over Cedarville. The Hawks will look to begin a season 1-0 for the second consecutive year.
Missouri Western opened last season with an 87-75 loss to West Texas A&M before eventually finishing with 21 victories and reaching the NCAA Tournament.
Monday provides both programs an opportunity to establish an early tone as they begin seasons with significant roster turnover.
Matchup Outlook
Monday's opener brings together two teams replacing major pieces from a year ago.
Quincy will look to build around the experience of Bolton and Wallingford while integrating a large group of newcomers into expanded roles.
Missouri Western faces a similar challenge after losing its top three scorers from a team that averaged more than 81 points per game.
The Griffons enter with the stronger preseason expectations after being picked third in the MIAA and receiving votes nationally, but Quincy will have the advantage of opening the season on its home floor.
Rebounding and ball security could be especially important.
The Hawks were one of the GLVC's better rebounding teams last season, while Missouri Western excelled at limiting turnovers and creating extra possessions.
Those areas proved important when the teams met last year and could once again help determine the outcome.
Quincy and Missouri Western tip off the 2026-27 season at 6 PM Monday at Pepsi Arena.
GLVCSN
Live Stats
Quincy Game Notes
Box Score vs. Missouri Western
