University of Missouri
7-2
Miami (Ohio)
5-4
@MizzouHoops Uses Balanced Scoring Attack to Defeat Miami (Ohio), 70-51
12/5/2017 10:53:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Barnett hits five three-pointers and Puryear recorded seventh career 20-point game
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Mizzou Men's Basketball (7-2, 0-0 SEC) used a 14-0 run late in the first half to pull away from Miami (Ohio) on Tuesday night (Dec. 5), winning 70-51 at Mizzou Arena. With the victory over the RedHawks (5-4, 0-0 MAC), Mizzou improved to 4-0 at home on the season. Four Tigers scored in double-figures, led by junior forward Kevin Puryear (Blue Springs, Mo.), who recorded his seventh career 20-point game. He scored a game-high 20 points on 6-of-8 shooting, making all six of his free throws and hitting 2-of-3 from the three-point line.
Mizzou shot a stout 53 percent from the floor (25-of-47), while limiting Miami to 32 percent. Mizzou connected on 10-of-23 from deep range (43 percent), led by five three-point makes from senior forward Jordan Barnett (St. Louis, Mo.), who finished with 15 points as all five baskets were from triple territory. He tied for the team lead with eight boards.
Turning Point
In the first half, Miami (Ohio) cut the Mizzou lead to just one at 20-19, but Mizzou went on a 6-0 run over a 36-second span to pull ahead by seven at 26-19 with 3:51 remaining in the first half. That was part of a 14-0 run during which Mizzou hit all seven of its shots from the floor, while limiting Miami to 0-for-4 shooting. Mizzou got four three-pointers during that run - two each from senior guard Kassius Robertson (Toronto, Ontario) and Barnett – and a slam dunk from freshman forward Jeremiah Tilmon (East St. Louis, Mo.). Mizzou closed the half on a 16-2 run and began by dominating the second half, scoring 16 of the first 22 points.
Miami had an 11-0 run late in the second half to pull within 12, but Robertson hit his third shot from distance to stop the run and put the game on ice as it brought about an 8-0 Mizzou run. The Tigers led by as many as 23 during the second half and the game was never closer than 12 points following the 14-0 run in the first half.
Top Tigers
- Puryear had a big second half, scoring 12 points on 3-for-3 shooting, including two from distance, to bring his game total to 20 points. It was his seventh career game with at least 20 points, first this season and a game-high.
- Robertston scored 17 points, with three assists, while hitting 3-of-7 from distance in the win. He also pitched in two blocks, a career-high.
- Barnett score 15 points, including 12 in the first half. He was 4-for-5 from distance in the first half alone. He has hit at least three 3-pointers in a single game seven times in his career, including three times this season (three vs. Iowa State and West Virginia). He finished just two rebounds shy of a double-double.
- Barnett's five three-pointers matched his career-high.
- Junior guard Jordan Geist (Fort Wayne, Ind.) had four assists and three rebounds in just 16 minutes of play.
- Forward Jontay Porter (Columbia, Mo.) matched the team-high with eight boards in just 19 minutes. He also handed out a pair of assists and blocked two shots to fill up the stat sheet.
- Tilmon was the other Tiger to score in double-figures, putting up 12 points with six boards in 25 minutes of play.
Up Next
Mizzou will be back in action Saturday at 8 p.m. CT against Green Bay before having next week off as the team focuses on final exams.
For all the latest on Mizzou Basketball, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on Twitter (@MizzouHoops) and like the team Facebook and Instagram (Mizzou Hoops).
