Nov. 5, 2006
Missouri Tigers (1-0 Exhibition) vs. Lithuania Academy (0-4 Exhibition)
Exhibition Game 2 - Nov. 6, 2006 - Columbia, Mo.
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For Openers
The University of Missouri Men's Basketball program wraps up exhibition action this evening when it hosts Lithuania Academy at Mizzou Arena ... The Tigers were successful in their preseason debut, thrashing Missouri-Rolla 105-67 ... Although the game doesn't count in the records books because of its exhibition status, the Tigers recorded a school record-tying and Mizzou-Arena high 23 steals in the contest ... Not too shabby for the team's first game under Head Coach Mike Anderson ... The Tigers actually had a record five players record three or more steals in the contest en route to those 23 total thefts ... Including exhibition games last season, Mizzou's single-game high for steals was just 10 against Eastern Illinois and Louisiana Monroe ... The Tigers also forced a Mizzou Arena record 36 UM-Rolla turnovers, including 22 in the first 20 minutes of play ... That's a rate of 1.1 turnovers per minute in the opening period ... Mizzou also scored a remarkable 44 points off turnovers and despite the team's size (or lack thereof), the Tigers scored 64 points in the paint due in large part to transition buckets ... The Tigers showed balanced scoring in the 38-point win, as newcomer Stefhon Hannah led the squad with 25 points and seven steals ... Had the records counted, Hannah's seven steals would have ranked No. 2 all-time in school annals ... The last Tiger with seven steals in a game was Rickey Paulding (2-10-04) against Colorado ... Jason Horton's five steals would have ranked No. 17 all-time.
Mizzou Quick-Hitters (Team Notes)
- Missouri's 23 steals vs. Missouri-Rolla would have tied the school record ... The Tigers also recorded 23 thefts against Florida A&M on Dec. 3, 1991 ... Including exhibition games, the Mizzou high in 2005-06 was just 10, which was set on three occasions.
- Mizzou dished out 21 assists in the exhibition-opener against Missouri-Rolla ... Including exhibition games, the team high last season was 20 at Davidson.
- Missouri forced Missouri-Rolla into a Mizzou Arena record 36 turnovers ... The high last season for a Mizzou opponent was 24 in the exhibition-opener against Bemidji State.
- Missouri's 85 field goal attempts would have ranked sixth all-time in school annals ... The Tigers also attempted 85 field goals against Kearney State (Dec. 30, 1989) and Kansas (Jan. 18, 1975) ... The 85 field goal attempts are the most since the Tigers attempted 90 against Iowa State on Jan. 13, 2001 at Hearnes.
- Missouri enjoyed a remarkable 44-8 advantage in points off turnovers and a 64-24 advantage in points in the paint ... Last season, with the services of senior center Kevin Young, the MU season high for points in the paint (including exhibition) was 45 against Sam Houston State, 19 points fewer than Mizzou's 64-point effort in the exhibition-opener.
- Missouri's 105 points marked the first time the Tigers eclipsed the century mark since scoring 100 against Central Missouri State in the 2004-05 exhibition-opener.
- It's also the first time the Tigers have ever topped 100 tallies in the debut of a head coach (exhibition or regular-season) ... The previous high was 84 by Quin Snyder's Tigers vs. the California All-Stars on Nov. 2, 1999.
Tiger Tidbits (Individual Notes)
- Newcomer Stefhon Hannah made an emphatic debut, recording game-high totals of 25 points, seven steals and six assists in the win over Missouri-Rolla.
- The seven steals would have registered as the second highest total in school history and most since Rickey Paulding enjoyed seven thefts against Colorado on Feb. 10, 2004.
- Fellow junior Jason Horton enjoyed one of the most complete games of his career, scoring nine points, dishing out six assists (just one turnover), grabbing four boards and recording five steals (would have been a career high).
- Horton's 6-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio was tops in the game and the five steals would have ranked No. 17 all-time at Mizzou.
- The Tigers actually had a record five individuals record three or more steals in the game.
- Marshall Brown narrowly missed his second career double-double following a 20-point, nine-rebound effort ... The eight field-goal makes by Brown would have tied a career high and the 20 points marked the third time Brown has eclipsed the 20-point plateau in his career.
- Matt Lawrence's 12 points and eight rebounds would have both been career highs ... A 6-foot-7 guard, Lawrence was second on the club in rebounding ... He also enjoyed his first career start, and career highs with four field goal makes and three 3-pointers.
- Marcus Watkins' 11 points would have tied his career high in a Tiger uniform ... His career high is 13 which he set during his sophomore season at Texas A&M.
- Mizzou got a solid effort from its touted crop of newcomers, as the collection of Michael Anderson, Darryl Butterfield, Stefhon Hannah, J.T. Tiller and Vaidotas Volkus combined for 54 points, 18 rebounds, 10 assists and 13 steals.
Getting To Know Today's Foe
Lithuania Academy plays its fifth contest in the United States and looks for its first win in its tour following losses at Southern Miss (81-52), Clemson (99-55), TCU (103-75 ) and Texas A&M (113-74) ... Over its last two contests, Lithuania has added the services of former TCU forward Aaron Curtis ... Curtis scored a game-high 32 points in the team's Nov. 3 loss at A&M ... Curtis hit 11-of-20 field goals and 9-of-14 free throws en route to the 32-point effort ... Turnovers have been a problem for Lithuania, as the team has averaged 32.7 miscues over their last three contests against Clemson, TCU and A&M.
Game Time Already?
When Mizzou opens regular-season action on Nov. 10 against North Carolina A&T in the John Thompson Foundation Classic, it will be earliest regular-season start in school history ... In fact, the Tigers will have three games under their belt by Nov. 12, which was the previous mark for the earliest start in school history.
l Mizzou opened the 1999-2000 season on Nov. 12 against Wisconsin in the NABC Classic in Syracuse, N.Y. ... That contest was also the first for former Head Coach, Quin Snyder ... Mizzou lost that game 66-56, which is the only time in school history a Mizzou Head Coach lost his debut.
The Good Tigers Giveth ...
Looking for two under-valued statistics that often translate into "W's", look no further than assists and steals.
l In Mizzou's 105-67 win over Missouri-Rolla on Nov. 3, the Tigers dished 21 assists, with the backcourt tandem of Jason Horton (six) and Stefhon Hannah (six) combining for 12 of those helpers ... Sophomore newcomer Michael Anderson chipped in three assists, while fellow newcomer J.T. Tiller added a pair.
... And Taketh Away
Mizzou's record number of thefts stole the statistical headlines on Friday, as the 23 rips tied the school record.
l That same backcourt tandem of Hannah (seven) and Horton (five) combined for more than half of the team's steals, while Darryl Butterfield, Tiller and sophomore Matt Lawrence (three apiece) helped Mizzou to a record total of five players registering at least three steals.
Fancy Seeing You Here
English won't be the only language spoken on Norm Stewart Court Monday evening and Tiger junior Vaidotas Volkus will serve as team translator ... A native of Panevezys, Lithuania, Volkus played on the Lithuanian Under-20 Team before coming to the United States to compete at Redlands Community College prior to signing with Mizzou last November.
Mizzou vs. International Foes
Monday's game vs. Lithuania Academy will be Missouri's first against an international opponent since Nov. 10, 1998, when the Tigers upended the Philippine National Team 77-47.
Experimental Rules In Effect For Exhibition Games
The NCAA Men's Basketball Rules Committee is experimenting with eliminating the first lane space nearest the hoop on both sides of the lane ... The second, third and fourth marked lane spots will remain.