It was a night of firsts at Mizzou Arena on Wednesday.
The night marked the first men’s basketball game back with no capacity restrictions since COVID-19. It was the first game in a Missouri Tigers jersey for Amari Davis, Jarron “Boogie” Coleman, Jordan Wilmore, Anton Brookshire, Sean Durugordon, Yaya Kieta, and Ronnie Degray III. Mizzou was still under the guidance of upperclassmen Javon Pickett and Kobe Brown, as they both scored double digits in a 78-68 Mizzou victory over Central Michigan.
The game started slow, with both teams playing sloppy basketball and turning the ball over. It took the Tigers about 10 minutes to get into the game, but right around the 10-minute mark is when the game started to change. The Tigers made four straight threes to get the offense started. This run sparked Mizzou Arena.
The fans who were into the game from start to finish energized Mizzou. When asked how the team responded to having a student section for the first time in two years, Coach Cuonzo Martin stated, “I felt it. Normally I’m so locked in, but I felt it. I felt the energy. That is what makes great programs, when you have a great fan base and a tremendous student section.”
One of those newcomers – Jarron “Boogie” Coleman – had a great Missouri Tiger debut. Boogie went 4-8 from the field, and all four of his field goals were three-pointers. He also was a perfect 2-2 from the line to finish the game with 14 points, 5 assists, 3 rebounds, a block, and a steal. When asked what it was like to play in front of Mizzou fans, Boogie answered with a smile from ear to ear saying, “I loved it; when we came out of the tunnels and it was packed, I was smiling ear to ear. I was happy to see the fans there and the student section there. It was a big energy boost for us.” Amari Davis and Ronnie DeGray III agreed that the energy, especially in a non-conference game, was great to have.
Senior Javon Pickett led the team in scoring with 18 points on 8-14 shooting from the field. Boogie Coleman led the team in assists with 5, and Ronnie DeGray III had a monstrous 12 rebounds. One of the biggest differences in this game was the Tiger’s dominance on the boards and in the paint. Mizzou outrebounded the Chippewas 44-31 and outscored Central Michigan 36-22 in the paint. This well-balanced attack led Mizzou to a 78-68 opening night victory over Central Michigan.