Mizzou Basketball Sets School Record with Third Consecutive 35-Point Win

Another home game, another victory for head coach Dennis Gates and Mizzou, as they remain unbeaten since its season opening loss to the Memphis Tigers on November 4th.

It was a victory credited to both sides of the ball, as Mizzou limited scoring opportunities defensively and found a rhythm early and often on offense.

Mizzou broke the 100-point barrier with just over three minutes remaining in the second half. The bucket that pushed them past 100 also gave them a commanding 45-point lead over Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

This marks the first time the Tigers have scored over 100 points in multiple games in a season since the 1994-1995 campaign, and they’re only six games in.

For the first time this season, Mark Mitchell led the team in scoring. The junior, in his first year in Columbia, scored 20 points on a very efficient 8-11 shooting. Mitchell also added four free throws on five attempts, five rebounds, and contributed with a steal and a block.

Alongside Mitchell, Caleb Grill, Tamar Bates, and Anthony Robinson II all added double-digit points, showcasing the team's offensive depth. In fact, every player who logged more than one minute contributed to the scoring.

Robinson likely had the best overall game, posting 11 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists, and a block. He contributed significantly on both ends of the floor during his team-high 25 minutes of play against Arkansas Pine-Bluff, who dropped to 1-6 with the loss. Robinson has taken full advantage of his opportunities, earning his first career double-double.

The Tigers reached the free-throw line 41 times, a season high, but converted just 29, under 71%. Head coach Dennis Gates has repeatedly stressed the importance of improvement in this area and while the team was aggressive enough to get to the line, they failed to convert as many as they should have.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff shot 32% from three and a season-low 35.5% from the field overall, as Mizzou's defense was stout all night. Arkansas-Pine Bluff committed 19 turnovers, compared to just eight from the Tigers.

Christian Moore entered the game as the Golden Lions' top player, averaging more than 14 points, 4 rebounds, and a couple of assists while shooting 42% from beyond the arc. However, he went 0-for-5 from the field, finishing with zero points, two assists, and a steal, as Mizzou's defense shut him down.

It won’t always be pretty, and the Tigers showed there’s always room for improvement, but they played extremely well, gaining much-needed momentum heading into the three-day break.

They'll celebrate another win and aim for their sixth straight home victory Wednesday against the Lindenwood Lions at 5:30 p.m.