Wednesday, March 8
Nashville, Tenn.
8 p.m. CT
University of Missouri
vs
Auburn
@MizzouHoops Begins SEC Tournament with Auburn on Wednesday
3/6/2017 1:25:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Rematch of Tigers set to tip off at approx. 8:30 p.m. CT on the SEC Network
| MIZZOU (7-23, 2-16) POSTSEASON - Wednesday, March 8 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OPPONENT | LOCATION | DAY | TIME | MEDIA | |
|
Auburn (18-13, 7-11) |
Bridgestone Arena Nashville, Tenn. |
Saturday | 8:30 p.m. CT | ||
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Mizzou Men's Basketball (7-23, 2-16) begins the postseason at the 2017 Southeastern Conference Tournament on Wednesday, March 8, in a rematch of its regular season finale. The Tigers face Auburn (18-13, 7-11) at Bridgestone Arena at approximately 8:30 p.m. CT on the SEC Network and the Tiger Radio Network.
- Sophomore forward Kevin Puryear had a 19-point outing, but it was not enough at Auburn (March 4), as the Black & Gold fell by a score of 89-78. Mizzou sank a season-high 13 three-pointers thanks to a program-record 38 attempts from deep range.
- Sophomore guard Terrence Phillips scored 15 points, but Mizzou fell to Texas A&M (Feb. 28), 60-43. Graduating Tigers senior forward Russell Woods and junior guard Trevor Glassman were honored pregame for Senior Night.
- Head coach Kim Anderson won his 300th career game as Mizzou defeated Vanderbilt, 72-52 (Feb. 11).
- Anderson will step down from his position as Mizzou head coach following the SEC Tournament, it was announced March 5.
- The second-ever #RallyForRhyan Game, an 83-78 win vs. Arkansas (Feb. 4), raised more than $54,000 for pediatric cancer research. More than $100,000 was raised at #RallyForRhyan Games over the past two seasons.
- The entire 2016-17 Mizzou roster consists of first- or second-year players. Not a single Tiger has been with the squad for three seasons. According to KenPom.com, the Tigers rank 327th out of 351 Division I teams in terms of experience.
OPPONENT - VS. AUBURN
- Auburn enters its rematch with Mizzou at the Southeastern Conference Tournament with an 18-13 overall record (7-11 SEC). Auburn ended a two-game losing skid with its Senior Day win over Mizzou, 89-78, on Saturday, March 4.
- Led by head coach Bruce Pearl, Auburn began the season winning 10 of its first 12 games, including a 74-70 win over Oklahoma on Dec. 21.
- Auburn is led by freshman guard Mustapha Heron, who is averaging 15.2 points per game while shooting 44.0 percent (43-of-102) from beyond the three-point line. Freshman guard Jared Harper is second on the team in scoring, averaging 11.5 points per game, while freshman forward Danjel Purifoy is third on the team in scoring, averaging 11.4 points per game.
- Heron leads the team in rebounding at 5.8 rebounds per game, while freshman center Austin Wiley is second on the team with 4.9 boards per game. Freshman forward Anfernee McLemore leads the team in offensive rebounds with 53.
- Auburn is averaging 80.3 points and 36.5 rebounds per game through 31 contests, allowing 79.4 points and 39.2 rebounds per game to its opponents. Foes of Auburn have shot 43.7 percent from the field and 35.2 percent from the three-point line.
PROGRAM RECORD BROKEN AT AUBURN
- Mizzou sank a season-best 13 three-pointers in its setback at Auburn (March 4), doing so on the legs of a program-record 38 attempts from beyond the three-point arc. Sophomore guard Jordan Geist (Fort Wayne, Ind.) sank a career-best four shots from deep range.
- The previous record of 37 attempts was hit twice by previous Mizzou teams, most recently during the 2009-10 season when the Tigers attempted 37 three-pointers vs. Chattanooga (Nov. 24, 2009). During the 2001-02 campaign, the Tigers attempted 37 triples at Colorado (Feb. 23, 2002).
PHILLIPS NAMED TO SEC COMMUNITY SERVICE TEAM
- In a continuing effort to recognize the accomplishments of student-athletes beyond the field of competition, the Southeastern Conference once again highlighted a Community Service Team for men's basketball for the 2016-17 season. Mizzou was represented on the team by sophomore guard Terrence Phillips (Orange County, Calif.), who has made it a priority to be involved in the local community.
- Phillips has often volunteered at local elementary schools, including spending time at day carnivals for Paxton Keeley and Shepard Boulevard schools in Columbia, Mo., during the fall.
- Phillips also participates in local reading time for area youth groups and elementary schools. He is also a frequent Children's Hospital visitor and helped instruct participants in Mizzou's first-annual Douglass Park Youth Clinic during fall of 2016.
HUGHES GETS HOT IN OXFORD
- Mizzou freshman guard Frankie Hughes (Cleveland, Ohio) had not scored in double digits for the Tigers since before conference play started (vs. Arizona, Dec. 10), but that fact did not deter Hughes on the road at Ole Miss (Feb. 25).
- Hughes scored 22 points (6-of-16 FG, 5-of-11 3PT, 5-of-6 FT) for his third game of 20-or-more points this season. His five three-pointers also matched a season-best for the freshman.
NIKKO GROWING INTO ROLE
- With a season-best 23 minutes off the bench at Ole Miss (Feb. 25), freshman forward Reed Nikko (Maple Grove, Minn.) began to show his full capabilities as a post presence for the Tigers. Nikko grabbed a season-high nine rebounds to go along with eight points.
- Nikko's shot-blocking has also been on display. The Minnesota native has a swat in four of the last five games, including two at Ole Miss (Feb. 25) and vs. Alabama (Feb. 15). His 18 blocks this season rank as the seventh-best total recorded by a Mizzou freshman, all-time.
LAST TIME VS. AUBURN
- Sophomore forward Kevin Puryear (Blue Springs, Mo.) posted his 30th career "10 & 5" game, scoring 19 points and grabbing eight rebounds at Auburn, but it was not enough to help the Black & Gold to victory. Auburn claimed the regular season finale, 89-78, at Auburn Arena.
- Puryear's 19-point performance was also the 14th game of his career scoring at least 15 points, and the 18th game this season in which he reached double digits.
- Puryear's 12 free throw attempts matched his career high, which he set earlier this season with 12 attempts from the charity stripe vs. Xavier (Nov. 17).
Players Mentioned
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