Mizzou basketball dominates exhibition match against Lincoln

Mizzou basketball came out firing and never looked back in its first outing, an exhibition scrimmage against the Division II Lincoln University Blue Tigers.

The Tigers looked sharp in their win, which will hopefully put them on the right track as the regular season quickly approaches.

They closed with a 90-45 victory, posting their largest margin of victory since 2011. Additionally, the 90 points scored were the most scored in an exhibition game since 2015.

This game was never really in doubt, as the Tigers scored early and often from the start. By halftime, they held a commanding 53-19 lead over the Blue Tigers. The second half offered little competition, with the lead never shrinking below 25 points.

It was great to see highly touted freshman Peyton Marshall and Annor Boateng on the court, even if only for a few minutes each.

Boateng further cemented his rise as a fan favorite by performing the national anthem on his saxophone before making his debut for the Tigers. The freshman is clearly eager to contribute, and both his teammates and fans are embracing his enthusiasm.

Jacob Crews, the transfer with high expectations this season, did not have a major impact on the game. Caleb Grill took the lead as the primary wing player, providing consistent outside shooting and solid defense, which reduced the need for the senior transfer from UT Martin.

At halftime, four players posted a +/- of at least 20, a level of efficiency they’ll aim to sustain into the regular season.

The standout of the first half was the sixth-year senior Grill, who shot an impressive 4-for-4 from three-point range and 5-for-5 overall. He added 4 rebounds and 2 steals, all without a single turnover. Grill capped the half by hitting back-to-back threes, finishing with 14 points.

Duke transfer Mark Mitchell was aggressive in attacking the basket, contributing 15 points and 4 rebounds.

The biggest concern from this exhibition was the absence of veteran guard Tony Perkins. Although he warmed up, Perkins did not play in the contest. However, head coach Dennis Gates said his absence was purely precautionary, noting that it also allowed freshmen and transfers a chance to make a splash in their debuts.

While assessing a team based on their first exhibition game against a D-II opponent isn’t a fully accurate measure of their readiness, the Tigers addressed a lot of concerns that fans had about them this offseason. The team looks deep, well-conditioned, competitive, and prepared to play when the season officially tips off on November 4 at Memphis.