Mizzou Set for Fourth All-Time Appearance at Maui Invitational
11/22/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
| Games | Location | Day/Time (CT) | Media |
|---|---|---|---|
| #2 Arizona | Maui, Hawaii | Monday // 4 p.m. CT | ESPN2 |
| Kansas State/Purdue | Maui, Hawaii | Tuesday // 1 p.m. OR 6:30 p.m. CT | ESPN2/ESPN |
| TBD | Maui, Hawaii | Wednesday // TBA | ESPN2/ESPN/ESPNU |
|
Game Notes: Mizzou
|
|||
LAYUPS...
• Deep range success and lock-down defense helped Mizzou (2-1) put away Oral Roberts (1-1) in the second half of the Tigers' 78-64 win on Wednesday, Nov. 19. Mizzou hit 8-of-9 three-point attempts in the second half (12-of-21 for the game) and held the Golden Eagles to 5-of-24 FG shooting.
• Mizzou (2-1) will take part in the EA Sports Maui Invitational (Nov. 24-26) for the first time since the 1997-98 season, first taking on Arizona (3-0) on Monday, Nov. 24 at 4 p.m. CT on ESPN2.
• Sophomore guard Wes Clark has three-straight double-digit scoring games to start the season for Mizzou (14.3 ppg), while freshman guard Montaque Gill-Caesar leads Mizzou in scoring (16.3 average.).
LAST TIME OUT...
• Mizzou Basketball used a strong second half shooting surge to down Oral Roberts on Wednesday, Nov. 19, winning 78-64 in a game that saw all 10 Tigers score that saw the court. Freshman guard Montaque Gill-Caesar led the scoring for Mizzou with 19 points (5-of-11 FG, 4-of-7 3PT), his second game leading the Tigers in points this season.
• Head coach Kim Anderson's group shot the Mizzou Arena lights out in the second half, especially from deep range, making 8-of-9 three-pointers. Gill-Caesar's four treys led the team, while sophomore guard Wes Clark made 3-of-4 from three-point territory.
• The Tigers' hot shooting in the final 20 minutes of play was coupled with a stout defensive effort to close the game. The Golden Eagles hit their first eight field goals and finished the first half shooting 65-percent from the floor. Despite that, Mizzou trailed by just two at the half, thanks to a 10-4 run to close the opening period. ORU's Obi Emegano scored 18 first half points and finished with 30 points (8-of-14 FG, 15-of-16 FT).
• The exceptional shooting proclivity did not last for Oral Roberts, as the Golden Eagles shot 5-of-24 from the field in the second half to finish the game at 40.9-percent (18-of-44).
A LOOK AT THE OPPONENT... ARIZONA/MAUI INVITATIONAL
• The Arizona Wildcats, coached by Sean Miller, have posted a 3-0 record thus far in the 2014-15 season, defeating Mount St. Mary's (78-55, Nov. 14), Cal-State Northridge (86-68, Nov. 16) and UC Irvine (71-54, Nov. 19). UA has seen primary scorers in Rondae Hollis Jefferson (16.0 points per game) and Brandon Ashley (15.0).
• Hollis Jefferson also gets to the free throw line the most for Arizona, posting team bests in makes (18) and attempts (25).
• Arizona has six players averaging at least 20.0 minutes of action per game, but not one player with an average of 30.0 minutes or more. Comparatively, Mizzou has three in Shamburger (34.3), Clark (33.0) and Gill-Caesar (31.3).
• Miller is in his sixth season leading the Wildcats (2009-present), posting a 132-48 record thus far in his tenure. He is 252-95 in 11 total years as a head coach, also leading Xavier from (2004-09).
• Mizzou will play either Kansas State or Purdue in its second game of the event. The Tigers are 117-118 all-time vs. K-State, and are 8-3 all-time against the Boilermakers.
HAWAIIAN HISTORY...
• Mizzou plays in the EA Sports Maui Invitational from Nov. 24-26, hosted by Chaminade University inside the Lahaina Civic Center in Maui, Hawaii. Missouri made its first appearance in what was then called the “Silversword Classic” in 1986, and has since appeared in the tournament's field in 1989 and 1997.
• Missouri's first trip in 1986 was to Wailuku, where head coach Norm Stewart's group went 2-1 in three games. The Tigers defeated Arkansas State (79-63) and Long Beach State (71-58) to bookend a setback to Vanderbilt (69-54).
• Stewart's team was back with big plans in 1989 after a NCAA Sweet Sixteen appearance the season prior. The Tigers made it a clean sweep in the tournament, now named the Maui Classic, by defeating Evansville (68-53), Louisville (82-79) and North Carolina (80-73).
• The legendary Stewart's second-to-last season leading Mizzou, 1997-98, featured a Maui trip. The Tigers played DePaul (W, 45-42), Duke (L, 82-59) and Kentucky (L, 77-55).
