Entering yesterday’s game at 7-0, the Mizzou Tigers had been on a roll as they were looking to close out their seven-game homestand with a win over Cleveland State.
In what would be a reunion for Tigers head coach Dennis Gates — formerly the head coach for the Vikings from 2019 to 2022 — he and the Tigers welcomed Cleveland State to Mizzou Arena for the first time since he took over as the Tigers' head coach.
Coming into the game, the Tigers had the nation's best field goal percentage at an impressive 56.8%.
All season long, the Tigers’ offense has been led by Mark Mitchell, who is averaging 18.1 points per game.
The Tigers score just under 94 points per game, and it’s no secret that their offense has been the recipe for success.
Looking at yesterday’s contest, that narrative stayed the same, as the Tigers got off to a 23-0 run, and the Vikings were buried from that point on.
While the Tigers got off to a hot start and ended up winning the game by 27 points, they didn’t shoot like their normal selves, and turnovers once again were an issue. They turned the ball over 16 times.
In a game where the Tigers shot below 50% from the field, they were still able to walk away with 86 points in the winning effort. Yesterday was the first game all year where the Tigers shot below that 50% mark.
Looking at what went well for the Tigers, Jacob Crews was once again a difference-maker as he finished the game with 20 points, matching the most he’s scored as a Tiger in last week's win over Prairie View A&M.
All season long, Crews has been a reliable option for Coach Gates, and he’s shooting 49% from beyond the arc.
With an injury to Jayden Stone that will sideline him for the next four to six weeks, Crews will be a key piece going forward, as we can expect him to take on a majority of the scoring load off the bench.
Looking ahead to Tuesday night, the Tigers will have their first game on the road against a high-major opponent as they travel to South Bend, where they will play Notre Dame in the ACC/SEC Challenge.
That game will tip off at 8 p.m. CST on ESPNU.