Oct. 22, 2008
Columbia, Mo. - Mizzou Basketball hosted its player draft for the annual Black & Gold Basketball Game on Wednesday afternoon just before the Tigers took the court for today's practice.
The Black & Gold Game is scheduled for Oct. 29 at Mizzou Arena at 7 p.m.. Doors to the event open at 6 p.m. and in addition to a full-scale scrimmage by the 2008-09 Tigers, members of the team will be signing pre-game autographs on the concourse of the Mizzou Arena. Team posters and schedule cards will be available for fans.
KMIZ's Beau Baehman drafted for the Mizzou Black Squad, while KFRU's Spencer Kane and Jet Roberts of "The Closers" drafted for the Gold. By virtue of a coin flip, Kane and Roberts won the rights to the first pick, but traded it to Baehman for the second and third overall selections.
With his first pick, Baehman selected senior forward Leo Lyons. A preseason honorable mention All-Big 12 pick, Lyons led Missouri in scoring last season at 13.1 points per game and led the Big 12 Conference overall in field goal percentage (.583).
Kane and Roberts countered with the selections of DeMarre Carroll and junior guard J.T. Tiller. Carroll joined Lyons on the Big 12's preseason All-Conference squad and was the league's Newcomer of the Year in 2008. Tiller is one of the Big 12's top defensive guards and averaged 6.8 points and nearly two assists per game as a sophomore. He was also the Big 12's Co-Player of the Week following his 20-point effort in the win over No. 22 Kansas State on Feb. 2.
Missouri Basketball is partnering with the Central Missouri Food Bank for this year's Black & Gold Game and encourages fans to donate two canned food items per person to gain entry to the event.
The Black & Gold Game will be the only formal preseason opportunity for Tiger fans to catch a glimpse of their 2008-09 squad before the start of exhibition play on Nov. 6. Mizzou opens regular-season play on Nov. 15 against Prairie View A&M.
Single-game tickets for all Missouri non-conference home games are now on sale through the Mizzou Athletics Ticket Office. Call the ticket office at 1-800-CAT-PAWS or order online at mutigers.com.
Mizzou Black Squad
Coached by KMIZ's Beau Baehman and Kevin Lewis
Laurence Bowers
Marcus Denmon
Matt Lawrence
Leo Lyons
Keith Ramsey
Zaire Taylor
Mizzou Gold Squad
Coached by KFRU's Spencer Kane and Jet Roberts
Michael Anderson, Jr.
DeMarre Carroll
Kimmie English
Steve Moore
Miguel Paul
Justin Safford
J.T. Tiller