The Missouri Tigers Men’s Basketball team traveled to Washington D.C. to play its season opener against Howard.
Last season, the Tigers made the NCAA for the second time under head coach Denis Gates, but lost in the first round to Drake. Heading into this season, the Tigers were the only SEC team to return three starters from last season, with Mark Mitchell and Anthony Robinson II expected to lead the team this season. The two were named captains of the team this season, with Mitchell being the star player after leading the team in scoring last season, and Robinson II expected to take a major leap as a three-and-d guard.
The Tigers won their preseason exhibition game against Kansas State 100-91. This season, after adding five transfers, the Tigers have one of the biggest teams in basketball, with an average height of around 6 ‘8 they are the tallest team in the SEC. It is also the tallest lineup in Missouri history, which is a tool the Tigers would need to use to beat Howard, whose tallest player was just 6 ‘10.
Today’s matchup was just the second time Missouri has played Howard, with the two facing off for the first time last year in Columbia, where the Tigers won 77-62. It also marks the first time Missouri has traveled and played at a MEAC team. Howard is projected to finish second in the MEAC this season and is led by preseason MEAC Player of the Year Bryce Harris.
The game started with Howard’s Cam Gillus opening the scoring on a layup. The Tigers quickly answered and got out to an early lead, knocking down shots from outside the arch. I was surprised by the spacing Missouri brought to their offense in the game, running the floor quickly, then getting into their half-court sets quickly to find open looks. For a team that thrives in transition and getting to the rim, as they were third in the nation in free throw attempts last season.
The Tigers shot 10 threes within the first 10 minutes of the game and ended the first half with a 42-26 lead. Howard struggled in the first half, shooting just over 30 percent from the field and 30 percent from three-point range, compared to Missouri’s 51.5 percent from the field and 45.5 percent from three-point range. The Tigers took advantage of their size and dominated on the boards 23-17. Heading into the second half, it looked like the Tigers would run away with this one.
Shawn Phillips Jr., the transfer from Arizona State, looked dominant in the first half for the Tigers, getting a ferocious poster dunk and making his first four shots of the game. For Howard, Harris looked equally impressive as he led all scorers at the half with 12 points, scoring nearly half of his team’s points.
In the second half, Howard locked in, as Alex Cotton hit five straight threes to start the half and cut Missouri’s lead down to just 10. The Tigers were able to stretch their lead again, however, as another transfer Jadeyn Stone took over, finishing the game with 13 points. Missouri maintained its lead in the second half and left Washington D.C. with a solid 88-67 victory to start its season.
The Tigers showed a lot of promise, shooting the ball effectively from all across the court. However, a major concern and negative from the game was their free-throw shooting, making just over 50 percent of their free throws. That, coupled with the fact that their two star players in Mitchell and Robinson, combined for just 17 points and both were in foul trouble, showed that there is room for improvement.
Missouri will head back to Columbia, where they will play against Southeast Missouri State on Friday at 7 p.m.