Wednesday Night Matchup with Omaha Up Next for @MizzouHoops

Wednesday, December 9

Columbia, Mo.

7:00 PM

University of Missouri

Omaha

12/8/2015 3:29:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Tigers vs. Mavericks set for 7 p.m. start on the SEC Network

Opponent	Location	Day/Time	Media
Omaha Buy Tickets	Mizzou Arena	Wednesday, Dec. 9 7 p.m.	TV: SEC Network Radio: Tiger Network Online: WatchESPN \| Live Audio \| Live Stats Game Notes

#ZOUNotes

Mizzou Men's Basketball faces Omaha in Mizzou Arena on Wednesday, Dec. 9, tipping off at 7 p.m. on the SEC Network.
The Tigers (4-3) turned away previously undefeated Northern Illinois (7-1) by a score of 78-71 on Friday, Dec. 4. Freshman forward Kevin Puryear scored 17 points in the win.
Puryear has 95 points through the first seven games of his freshman season, putting him on pace amongst the likes of Mizzou greats Steve Stipanovich (114), Kelly Thames (97) and Jevon Crudup (88).
Mizzou is averaging 70.3 points per game after seven games, an improvement from last season's seven-game average of 64.0.
Mizzou's two 80-point efforts in 2015 (83 points vs. Wofford, Nov. 13, 88 vs. Arkansas State) are two more than the Tigers had a season ago. Mizzou scored a season-high 79 points in a road setback at Auburn (Jan. 10, 2015).
Head coach Kim Anderson went 3-3 vs. Omaha (Div. II prior 2011-12) while at the helm of Central Missouri.

Last Time Out

Mizzou improved to 4-0 at home this season with its 78-71 victory over Northern Illinois on Dec. 4. Previously undefeated (7-1), the Huskies entered the game shooting 46.5 percent from the field and were held to 34.9 percent (22-of-63 FG) against the Tigers. Mizzou is now 2-0 all-time against Northern Illinois.
Northern Illinois' 34.9-percent FG mark was a season-low for Mizzou opponents. The Tigers have held five of their seven opponents to less than 40 percent shooting this season.
Head coach Kim Anderson has had ten or more of his Mizzou players score in two-straight games, which happened twice over the entire 2014-15 season.
Sophomore guard Namon Wright grabbed six rebounds, recording his 100th career rebound in the process. This marked the sixth time in seven games this season that he has grabbed at least four.
Freshman forward Kevin Puryear has scored in double digits in six of seven career games
Freshman guard Terrence Phillips has three-straight games with four or more assists, which was a career best total for him when he first reached it.

Puryear Comes Up Big Late

Mizzou freshman forward Kevin Puryear scored 13 of his 17 points vs. Northern Illinois (Dec. 4) in the second half, but did even more damage after subbing back into action with 4:16 left in the game.
Puryear scored seven points in the last 2:30 of action, shooting a perfect 3-for-3 and completing a three-point play with 58 seconds left.

Always Better to Give

Mizzou recorded 18 assists (on 28 field goals) as team in the 78-71 win vs. Northern Illinois (Dec. 4), the highest total of assists in the Kim Anderson era.
The Tigers last posted 18 assists or more with 19 against Mississippi State on March 1, 2014.

Block Party

Mizzou sophomore forward Jakeenan Gant has recorded a block in 6-of-7 games and has a team-leading seven so far in the 2015-16 campaign.
Gant has already reached the halfway point of his 2014-15 total (14), which he reached in 23 games.

About Omaha

A former opponent of head coach Kim Anderson's during his tenure at Central Missouri (Div. II), Omaha has transitioned to Division I basketball under longtime head coach Derrin Hansen.
The Mules and Mavericks were MIAA foes from 2008-11. Omaha kept Anderson's Mules from repeating as MIAA Tournament champions in 2010, although UCM did claim the 2009-10 regular season conference crown with an outstanding 18-2 league record.
Anderson went 3-3 vs. Omaha during that time period, with the Mavericks then moving to independent status in Division I for the 2011-12 season. Omaha has been members of the Summit League since the 2012-13 season.

Closer Look at the Mavericks

Omaha is led by two players averaging more than 16 points per game in sophomore forward Tre'Shawn Thurman (16.8) and senior guard Devin Patterson (16.6).
Not far behind Thurman and Patterson is senior forward Jake White, who is averaging 14.5 points per game to round out Omaha's double-digit scorers.
Patterson scored 38 points on 14-of-22 FG shooting in Omaha's most game, a 100-97 win at Montana State. He additionally hit the buzzer-beating three-pointer to secure the victory. Thurman was also a factor in the win with 20 points (6-of-9 FG).
Mizzou is 22-1 all-time against members of the Summit League.