@MizzouHoops Wins Opening Game of Italy Tour
8/7/2016 4:30:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Tigers defeat LCC International University, 80-68, behind 18-point games from Jackson and Hughes
ROME, Italy - Mizzou Men's Basketball opened its foreign tour of Italy with an 80-68 win over LCC International University on Sunday (Aug. 7) at the Palazzetto Arena Altero Felici. The exhibition victory kicked off the Tigers' slate of games, with three more contests to come in Italy.
The story of the win was the play of head coach Kim Anderson's freshman duo from Cleveland, Ohio. Guard Frankie Hughes and forward Willie Jackson both dropped 18 points to lead their new squad in scoring. Besides combining for 36 points, Hughes (4) and Jackson (7) also totaled 11 rebounds together.
"Obviously, it's very exciting to see our younger players step up immediately," Anderson said. "The competition level we've had in practice this summer has been extremely high, which is something I think the whole team has taken to heart. You have to compete every day in order to get better. Our tour in Italy is off to a great start, and I know our guys have seen and learned a lot so far."
Sophomore guard K.J. Walton (Indianapolis, Ind.) joined Hughes and Jackson in double digits with 10 points, all from a strong opening half of play. Walton also pulled down four rebounds. Leading the way on the boards for the Tigers was sophomore guard Terrence Phillips (Orange County, Calif.), who recorded eight rebounds.
Also contributing on the glass were senior forward Russell Woods (Chicago, Ill.) and sophomore forward Kevin Puryear (Blue Springs, Mo.), who both recorded six rebounds.
Walton's final bucket to get to 10 points was an impressive offensive board and tip-in in the final seconds of the second quarter, sending Mizzou into the break with a 45-35 advantage.
The Tigers continue their #ForzaMizzou trip on Monday, Aug. 8, with a tour of Vatican City. Mizzou next plays BC Silute on Tuesday, Aug. 9, with an 11:30 a.m. CT tipoff in Montecatini, Italy. The remaining game schedule is below:
- Game 2: Mizzou vs. BC Silute, Tuesday, August 9 (11:30 a.m. CT)
Location: Pala Terme Sport Complex, Via Cimabue, Montecatini Terme
- Game 3: Mizzou vs. Vicenza Select, Friday, August 12 (1:30 p.m. CT)
Location: Palazzetto dello Sport, Via Manzoni 1, Creazzo (Vicenza)
- Game 4: Mizzou vs. Kosovo National Team, Saturday, August 13 (11:30 a.m. CT)
Location: Palazzetto Scuole Elementari, Via Verdi, Costa Masnaga (Lecco)
For all the latest on Mizzou Men's Basketball, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (@MizzouHoops).
