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Nov. 27, 2005
Columbia, Mo. -
For Openers
Mizzou looks for its second consecutive win this evening when it takes on UMKC ... It's the first-ever meeting between the Tigers and Kangaroos and marks the 199th regular-season meeting between Missouri and an intrastate foe ... Mizzou is 142-56 vs. in-state opposition all-time (regular-season) and tonight's game marks the first in-state match-up (regular-season) for Missouri since a thrilling 69-67 win at Saint Louis on Dec. 3, 2001 ... Head Coach Quin Snyder is 2-1 vs. in-state competition (all against Saint Louis) ... Mizzou will be playing its first contest since a Nov. 20 win over Northwestern State ... The nine-day break for the Tigers is the program's longest since the 2002-03 season when Mizzou took on Illinois on Dec. 21, 2002, and then didn't play again until a Dec. 30 game vs. Valparaiso.
More Quick Hitters
Although the Tigers are just two games into the 2005-06 season, shooting looks to be a much-improved area for Quin Snyder's young club ... Mizzou is shooting 47.8 percent through its two outings, including 42.3 percent shooting from three-point range ... Heading into the weekend, Mizzou ranked third in the Big 12 with that 42.3 percent shooting stroke from beyond the arc and is fourth among Big 12 programs with a 79.0 ppg. scoring average ... The Tigers have done a majority of their offensive damage in the second half ... Mizzou is averaging 52.0 of its 79.0 points over the final 20 minutes, including a 54-point effort in the second-half of an 81-72 win against Northwestern State ... That win over NSU took on new significance following the Demon's overtime win at Mississippi State on Saturday ... Thanks to Thomas Gardner's back-to-back 20-point outings, Mizzou has had a player score at least 20 points in six consecutive games dating back to Gardner's 23-point night against Kansas (March 6, 2005) ... Jimmy McKinney stands just three games shy of playing his 100th career game at Mizzou and needs just one more three-point make to reach the century mark in that category as well ... After shooting just 48.4 percent (30-of-62) from the free throw line last season, Jason Horton is cashing in on his off-season workout regimen and is now 9-of-13 from the charity stripe on the year, including a career best 7-of-8 performance vs. Northwestern State.
Getting To Know Today's Foe
UMKC is off to a 2-0 start following a 75-65 win over Central Michigan on Nov. 26 ... Preseason First Team All-Mid-Continent Conference pick Quinton Day has been outstanding for the Kangaroos, averaging 27.5 points through two games, including a 33-point night against Central Methodist in the season-opener ... Day followed that up with 22 points vs. the Chippewas on Saturday ... Junior college forward Dee Ayuba joins Day with a 20-point average (20.0) and is tied for the team lead with 5.5 rebounds per game ... UMKC was picked fourth in the Mid-Continent Conference preseason standings, but received one first-place vote along with future Mizzou opponent Oakland (Dec. 30).
Tigers Enjoying Second-Half Surge
The Mizzou offense has excelled throughout the second half of its two games this season as the Tigers are averaging 52.0 points on 52.5 percent (31-of-59) shooting ... Missouri has topped the 50-point plateau in the second half in both contests this year, including a 54-point surge in the come-from-behind win over Northwestern State on Nov. 20 ... The 54 points were the most scored by the Tigers in a half since a Nov. 19, 2004, game vs. Davidson ... Mizzou also scored 54 second-half points in that game as well ... In addition to its 52.5 percent shooting from the floor, Missouri is shooting 50.0 percent (8-of-16) from beyond the arc over the final 20 minutes.
Old Tiger Plays Young Again, Has Career Game, Double-Double Vs. NW State
Senior center Kevin Young had the best game of his Mizzou career in the win over Northwestern State, as the 6-9, 270-pounder poured in career highs of 17 points and 13 rebounds in the nine-point (81-72) victory ... Young lead all players with the 13 caroms and his nine offensive boards were the most of his career ... After opening the game as a reserve, Young responded valiantly, scoring 12 points in the second half on 4-of-8 shooting ... He also hit 5-of-6 free throws, which was his most efficient outing at the charity stripe during his collegiate tenure.
T-For-3
Thomas Gardner continued his hot start from three-point range in the win over Northwestern State, connecting on a career-high-tying 4-of-7 triples en route to a career-best 25-point effort ... Gardner is 6-of-12 from bonus distance thus far, but has made each of his three-point buckets at critical junctures of Mizzou's two games.
l Against Northwestern State, Gardner made treys in the first minute of each half to get the Tigers off to quick starts, while his two remaining triples immediately answered NSU three-pointers to keep Mizzou within striking distance in the come-from-behind win.
l Against Sam Houston State, Gardner rebounded nicely from an 0-of-3 start, to hit back-to-back threes in the final 0:56 seconds to give Mizzou a last-second shot at forcing overtime.
l Thanks to his improved perimeter shooting, Gardner ranks second in the league with a 24.0 ppg. scoring average and is second in three-point field goal makes (3.0).
Tigers Celebrate Century Of Basketball
The 2005-06 campaign marks the 100th season of intercollegiate basketball at Mizzou and the program will be celebrating its rich tradition by honoring a 30-member All-Century Team ... Missouri's 20 All-Americans have already been named to the squad, meaning fans will have the opportunity to vote in their favorite players for the remaining 10 All-Century slots ... Voting can occur either at Mizzou Arena or by mail ... Ballots will appear in Tiger Courtside game programs or can be printed off Mizzou's official website, mutigers.com, and mailed into the Mizzou Athletics Media Relations Office ...Voting runs through Dec. 31, 2005, and the team will be announced Jan. 16, 2006 during the Mizzou-Kansas basketball game at Mizzou Arena ... The team will then be honored in person at the Feb. 12 home game vs. Kansas State.
Mizzou Getting To Know The Mid-Con
Although tonight's game marks the first-ever meeting between Missouri and UMKC, it will be the Tigers' 15th all-time meeting against an active member of the Mid-Continent Conference ... Mizzou is currently 14-0 all-time vs. the League, which is based out of Elmhurst, Ill., and includes universities in seven states ... In addition to UMKC, the Tigers will face defending Mid-Con Tournament Champion Oakland on Dec. 30, in Columbia ... The Tigers are 2-0 vs. the Grizzlies, including a 70-61 win on Dec. 4, 2004 ... The Tigers are also 3-0 vs. Centenary, 4-0 vs. Chicago State, 4-0 vs. Oral Roberts and 1-0 vs. Western Illinois.
Tigers Trading Threes For Frees
Once again, it's way too early to talk about trends but Mizzou's shot selection with regards to three-pointers, is hard to deny.
l Through two games this season, Mizzou has attempted a disciplined 26 three-pointers and has made 11 of those tries (42.3 percent) ... Last season after two games, the Tigers had already shot 49 threes, but connected on just 19 of those attempts (38.7 percent).
l Conversely, Mizzou has reached the free throw line 57 times in two games this season and has made more "freebees" (37-of-57) than its opponents have attempted (23-of-29).
l Last season after two games the Tigers had shot 46 free throws, while its opponents had attempted 33.
`Tis The Season
Sophomore point guard Jason Horton has gotten into the holiday spirit ... The Dallas native ranks among Big 12 leaders with 16 total assists through two games, including a season-high nine dimes in the win over Northwestern State ... The nine "helpers" was one shy of tying his career high, 10, which was set in an overtime win against Oklahoma (Feb. 12, 2005) ... Horton opened the season with seven assists against Sam Houston State (Nov. 14) and owns a solid 2.7-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio.
The Ultimate Warrior
Coaches and teammates call sophomore forward Marshall Brown "The Warrior" for his hard-nosed style of play on the court ... Brown has lived up to the monicker thus far, including a career high 20-point effort in the season-opener vs. Sam Houston State.
l The 6-foot-6 forward hit a career high 7-of-10 shots in the contest and buried 5-of-6 free throws in the personal-best effort ... The Austin, Texas, native also grabbed four boards and ripped away a career-high tying three steals in a career best 36 minutes.
l Prior to the SHSU game, Brown had played 30 minutes just once in his career ... The forward scored five points and grabbed four boards in 30 minutes of action at UNLV on Feb. 9, 2005.
l Brown currently ranks second on the club in scoring and rebounding with 14.5 points and 4.0 boards every night out.
Gardner Digging His Leading Role
The Tigers are barely into the 2005-06 campaign, but Thomas Gardner is showing why he can be counted on to provide some needed offensive firepower following the departure of Linas Kleiza to the NBA ... After averaging 20.5 points in the preseason, Gardner is second among Big 12 Conference performers at 24.0 ppg., including a career high 25 points in the 81-72 win over Northwestern State (Nov. 20).
l The Portland, Ore., native tied a career high by hitting 8-of-16 shots vs. the Demons, including 4-of-7 makes from three-point range.
l Gardner opened the season by hitting 10-of-17 buckets en route to a 23-point night vs. Sam Houston State ... The 6-foot-5 wing hit his final four shots in the game, including a pair of treys in the final 0:56 seconds to bring Mizzou storming back.
The Long Way Home
It's been a long road for junior transfer Marcus Watkins ... After opening his career at Texas A&M, the 6-4 forward saw his first action as a Tiger in the opener, and scored nine points in 15 minutes of playing time ... The Charlotte native hit a last-second trey to close the first half and finished second on the squad with four rebounds ... The junior also showed a knack for getting to the free throw line and supplemented his scoring total with 4-of-5 shooting at the charity stripe.