Jan. 15, 2002
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Texas A&M Aggies (6-10, 0-2) at #21 Missouri Tigers (12-4, 2-1)
Game# 17 - Jan. 16, 2002 - Columbia, Mo.
TIPOFF: 7:00 p.m. (central time).
ARENA: Hearnes Center (13,545). Opened in 1972. MU is 374-65 (.852) there alltime, including 3-0 there vs. Texas A&M.
RADIO: Tiger Network (Mike Kelly, play-by-play/Gary Link , color). Carried on more than 50 stations statewide, and on the Internet at www.mutigers.com.
TV: Mizzou Sports Network. Chris Gervino, play-by-play/Jon Sundvold, color.
RANKINGS: MU is #21 (A.P.) & #19 (ESPN/USA Today), A&M is not ranked.
SERIES: MU leads, 8-1, and has won 5 straight, and 6-of-7 since the Big 12 formed.
COACHES:
Missouri: Quin Snyder (Duke '89), 50-30 at MU and overall (3rd season). Snyder is 3-0 vs. Texas A&M and vs. Melvin Watkins.
Texas A&M: Melvin Watkins (UNC-Charlotte '77), 36-65 at A&M (4th season) and 78-85 overall (6th season). Watkins is 0-4 vs. Missouri and 0-3 vs. Quin Snyder.
MIZZOU RETURNS HOME THIS WEEK FOR 2-GAME HOMESTAND
After earning its first Big 12 Conference road win of the season, the Missouri Tigers (12-4 overall, 2-1 in Big 12 play) return home for a 2-game stand. The brief homestay begins Wednesday as Mizzou plays host to the Texas A&M Aggies (6-10, 0-2), and continues Saturday with a tilt against the Colorado Buffaloes (9-4, 0-2).
Missouri is coming off a solid 81-66 win at Kansas State Saturday, a game after they suffered a disappointing defeat at Iowa State last Wednesday. Mizzou benefitted from the 3-pronged attack of Arthur Johnson (23 pts. & 15 rebs.), Kareem Rush (20 pts.) and Clarence Gilbert (19 pts.), who combined to score 62 of MU's 81 points on the day.
Texas A&M comes to Columbia looking to break a 5-game losing streak. A&M has lost 9 of its last 10 games, after opening the year 4-0.
Missouri will play 3 games in the next 6 days, beginning with Wednesday's tilt with Texas A&M. Following that, the Tigers host Colorado on Saturday, followed by a road game at #5 Oklahoma next Monday.
Missouri displayed one of the best inside-outside games its seen in a long time last Saturday at Kansas State, as center Arthur Johnson (23 pts.) combined with perimeter weapons Kareem Rush (20) and Clarence Gilbert (19) to score 62 of MU's 81 points.
Missouri outrebounded Kansas State 46-30 Saturday to key its road win, including a 19-7 edge in offensive rebounding. That advantage led to a massive 21-4 edge in 2nd chance points for the Tigers. MU ranks 4th in the Big 12 in offensive rebounding entering the Texas A&M game.
Center Arthur Johnson's 23 points Saturday represented a career high for the Detroit, Mich. native. A.J. also added 15 rebounds vs. K-State, marking his 6th double-double of the season, which is the 2nd-most among all Big 12 players. He continues to rank among Big 12 leaders in blocked shots (1st - 2.3), offensive rebounding (2nd - 4.3), total rebounding (3rd - 8.5) and field goal percentage (5th - 56.1%).
Kareem Rush returned to his All-American form last week, as he averaged 24.5 points in games at Iowa State and Kansas State). He tallied a season-high 29 points at ISU Wednesday, and followed with 20 more at KSU Saturday.
Clarence Gilbert is the Big 12's active leading career scorer, with 1,342 career points. His total ranks him 14th alltime at MU, and he needs just 22 points to tie former Kansas star Paul Pierce for 10th place on the Big 12's alltime scoring chart.
Free throw attempts appear to be a telling statistic for MU's fortunes this year. In MU's 12 wins, opponents have shot an average of 16.6 free throws per game. In MU's 4 losses, opponents have gone to the line an average of 26.5 times per contest.
MU is playing one of the nation's toughest schedules. Seven teams who are currently ranked in both the latest Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today Coaches' polls are on the Tigers' schedule. MU is 2-2 so far this year against ranked competition.