Tuesday, December 19
Columbia, Mo.
8 PM CT
University of Missouri
vs
Stephen F. Austin
@MizzouHoops Takes on Stephen F. Austin on Tuesday
12/18/2017 5:13:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Tigers and Lumberjacks tip off from Mizzou Arena at 8 p.m. CT on ESPNU
Mizzou Men's Basketball (9-2) finishes its four-game December homestand with Stephen F. Austin (10-1) on Tuesday, Dec. 19, with an 8 p.m. CT tipoff on ESPNU.
Upcoming Promotions
- The pesky Grinch has infiltrated the University of Missouri's campus. Instead of going after Whoville's holiday spirit, the Grinch has stolen the majority of MU students for Winter Break and turned Mizzou Arena into Zouville.
- Mizzou Athletics is searching for additional fans to cheer on head coach Cuonzo Martin nd his squad as the Tigers face Stephen F. Austin on Tuesday, Dec. 19. Tipoff from Zouville is scheduled for 8 p.m.
- Fans can visit Zouville by purchasing tickets at $15 for adults and $5 for children (ages 5-12). This is a one-time-only ticket discount promotion to fill up Zouville and hopefully grow the Grinch's heart three sizes. All fans are asked to wear their best holiday-themed gear to Mizzou Arena. The best-dressed fans will win a $50 Tiger Team Store gift card.
- On top of bringing excitement and holiday spirit to Zouville, fans are encouraged to bring a new teddy bear or other stuffed animal that will be part of the Inaugural Teddy Bear Toss at Mizzou Arena. At the start of halftime, those in attendance will be asked to toss their stuffed toy onto the court. All toys will be donated to the children at the MU Women's & Children's Hospital this holiday season.
Story Lines
- The Tigers have won four-straight games for the first time since the 2013-14 season when Mizzou compiled a steak of 10 wins to begin its campaign. Mizzou's 9-2 start is the Black & Gold's best since that 2013-14 campaign when the Tigers began the season 10-0.
- Mizzou's 107 three-pointers rank as the most in program history through 11 games, ahead of the 1999-2000 season's 103. The 2009-10 season comes in third at 102 through 11 games.
- Senior forward Jordan Barnett recorded his second double-double of the season and third of his career with 18 points and 11 rebounds in the 85-51 win vs. North Florida (Dec. 16).
- Barnett is averaging 18.2 points and 7.8 rebounds per game over the Tigers' last six games.
- In Mizzou's four-game winning streak, the Tigers have outscored their opponents by an average margin of 19.7 points (79.2-59.5). Mizzou has made 41.2 percent (42-102) of its three-pointers, while holding its opponents to 27.8 percent (27-97) in that span.
- Freshman forward Jontay Porter and Texas A&M's Robert Williams are the only two players in the nation currently averaging 7.0 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and 2.0 assists per game.
- Junior guard Jordan Geist went off for a career-high 28 points in the win against Green Bay (Dec. 9) -- Mizzou's single-game high for the season. Geist scored 18 points on two occasions last year.
- Graduate senior guard Kassius Robertson and Geist have each posted at least one assist in every game this season.
- The Tigers rank first in the SEC in three-pointers made per game (9.7) and fifth in three-point field goal percentage (.389).
Scouting Stephen F. Austin
- Mizzou faces North Florida for the second time in program history on Saturday, Dec. 16. The Tigers defeated the Osprey by a score of 96-58 on Nov. 20, 2010, inside Mizzou Arena.
- After starting the 2017-18 season with an 0-6 record, North Florida has won five of its last six games.
- Currently on a four-game winning streak, head coach Matthew Driscoll's group has averaged 89.3 points per game.
- Three North Florida players have averaged double-digits in the scoring column, led by sophomore guard Ivan Gandia-Rosa's 16.0 points per game.
- Sophomore forward Wajid Aminu leads his North Florida squad on the boards, grabbing 7.0 rebounds per game.
- Among its opponents to start the season, the Osprey fell by a score of 108-68 at Florida (Nov. 16).
Notes From The Last Time Out
- Mizzou faces Stephen F. Austin for the second time in program history on Tuesday, Dec. 19, playing for the first time since the 2006-07 season. The Tigers defeated the Lumberjacks, 85-56, on Nov. 25, 2006.
- Led by second-year head coach Kyle Keller, Stephen F. Austin has vaulted to a 10-1 start to the 2017-18 season. SFA recently defeated LSU on the road, 83-82, on Saturday, Dec. 16. The Lumberjacks dropped an earlier road contest at Mississippi State, 80-75, on Nov. 22, for their only loss.
- Three Lumberjacks average at least 15.0 points per game, led by Kevon Harris at 16.9 points per game. T.J. Holyfield and Shannon Bogues average 15.5 and 15.1 points per game, respectively.
- As a squad, Stephen F. Austin averages 81.5 points per game while allowing 67.6 points per game. SFA has shot 48.1 percent from the field through its 11 games this season.
More Story Lines
- Mizzou had two players record 10-or-more rebounds in the same game for the first time since the 2015-16 season in the win vs. North Florida (Dec. 16). Senior forward Jordan Barnett (11) and freshman forward Jontay Porter (10) accomplished the feat, with the last occurrence coming on Dec. 29, 2015 (Jakeenan Gant, 11; Russell Woods, 10) against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
- The Tigers pulled down 52 rebounds against North Florida (Dec. 16) -- their first game with 50-or-more boards since last season at home vs. Auburn (51, Jan. 10, 2017).
- Freshman guard Blake Harris is one of just four players in the nation averaging at least 3.0 assists per game while playing fewer than 14.0 minutes per game.
- Martin's squad has outrebounded its opponents in 10-of-11 games this season.
- Mizzou is 6-0 at home to start the season -- its best home start since the 2013-14 season when the Tigers won their first eight.
- Mizzou put up 100 points for the first time since the 2012-13 season in its 100-77 victory over Green Bay (Dec. 9). The Tigers defeated South Carolina State by a score of 102-51 on Dec. 17, 2012.
- Junior guard Jordan Geist has hit 48.4 percent (15-of-31) of his three-pointers to start the 2017-18 season, an increase from his 28.6 percent success rate from the entire 2016-17 season.
- Mizzou has converted 40 percent or better of its three-point field goal attempts in seven-straight games. The Tigers have made 10-or-more triples in five of those six contests.
- Ball movement is on the up-tick for the Tigers this season, as Mizzou has averaged 16.5 assists per game -- an improvement over the 12.1 dimes averaged last season. Martin's squad has only posted two games with fewer than 12 assists this season (11: at Utah; vs. Emporia State).
Up Next
- Mizzou and Illinois meet for the 37th Annual Bud Light Braggin' Rights Game, presented by State Farm Insurance, on Saturday, Dec. 23, at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis.
- The holiday tradition tips off at 7 p.m. CT on ESPN2.
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