Sunday, December 2
Columbia, Mo.
2 PM
University of Missouri
vs
UCF
@MizzouHoops Takes on Preseason AAC Favorite UCF on Sunday
12/1/2018 11:30:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Tip off at Mizzou Arena is set for 2 p.m. CT on ESPNU
| Mizzou Faces AAC Favorite UCF on Sunday at Mizzou Arena | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OPPONENT | LOCATION | DAY | TIME (CT) | WATCH | LISTEN | STATS | Game Notes |
| UCF | Columbia, Mo. | Sunday, Dec. 2 | 2 p.m. | ESPNU | KTGR | Stats | Notes |
Storylines
- Mizzou squares off with UCF for the second time in program history on Sunday after the Tigers picked up their first true road win of the Cuonzo Martin era over the Golden Knights last season. Mizzou edged UCF, 62-59, on Nov. 30, 2017 in Orlando. It was the only home nonconference loss UCF suffered in 2017-18.
- Mizzou ranks second in the SEC in 3-point field goal percentage, shooting 37.5 from beyond the arc. From 2012-17, Mizzou shot 32.4 percent from 3-point range. In the Martin era, Mizzou is shooting 38.2 percent from deep. UCF limits opponents to 30.6 percent shooting from beyond the arc.
- Sophomore Mark Smith leads the SEC in 3-point field goal percentage and ranks 17th in the nation in that category among those with 30+ attempts from 3-point range. Smith also has 36 rebounds, which is six shy of matching his entire total from his freshman season at Illinois (42).
- Mizzou won 13 home games in a season for the ninth time in Mizzou Arena history a season ago and the Tigers are 14-5 in their last 19 home contests.
- Senior Jordan Geist posted back-to-back 20+-point performances vs. Oregon State and Kansas State. Geist is just the second Tiger in the Martin era to accomplish that feat, joining All-SEC guard Kassius Robertson. Geist earned Paradise Jam All-Tournament Team honors. He followed with 11 points vs. Temple, reaching double figures in three consecutive games for the second time in his career. His 56 points in the last three contests are the most in a three-game stretch in his career.
- Mizzou has outrebounded its opponent five times in six games to begin the season. The Tigers have done that 27 times in 39 games during the Martin era.
- Senior forward Kevin Puryear has 1,081 career points and counting, which ranks sixth among all active SEC players. Puryear has scored in double figures 58 times in his career (four times in 2018-19).
Smith's Hot Start
- Mark Smith has been a vital addition to the Tigers' roster after receiving a waiver for immediate eligibility from the NCAA.
- Smith has 77 points, 36 rebounds and 16 triples in six games. He notched 179 points, 42 rebounds and 16 triples all of last season at Illinois.
- He is ripping the nets at a 51.6 percent clip from beyond the arc after shooting 23.2 percent from 3-point range as a freshman. That percentage leads the SEC through six games and ranks 24th in the nation. His 2.7 3-pointers per contest are tied for fourth in the league.
- Smith is leading Mizzou with 31 defensive rebounds. He grabbed just 24 defensive rebounds in 31 games last season. He is the only player in the top 10 in the SEC in defensive rebounds and 3-pointers made.
- In his first game at Mizzou, Smith poured in 19 points behind a career-high five 3-pointers. He grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds vs. Central Arkansas. His previous career-best was just three boards before the 10-board performance on Nov. 6.
- Smith became the first Mizzou newcomer to record a double-double in his debut since Linas Kleiza posted a double-double in the 2003-04 season opener vs. Oakland.
- He poured in 19 points vs. Temple to lead Mizzou in scoring for the third time in six games.
- Before this season, Smith hadn't reached double figures since scoring 11 points against Mizzou on Dec. 23, 2017. He's do so four times this season.
Freshmen Settling In
- Mizzou's 2018-19 roster features 19 players, the SEC's largest roster.
- Mizzou welcomes 10 newcomers, including seven on scholarship (Torrence Watson, Javon Pickett, Christian Guess, Xavier Pinson, Dru Smith, Mark Smith and KJ Santos) and three recruited walk-ons (Parker Braun, Evan Yerkes and Brooks Ford).
- Pinson, Pickett and Watson are all averaging more than 16 minutes per game. Pinson recently tossed in a career-best 12 points, draining two triples vs. No. 12 Kansas State.
- Guess was a late addition for the Tigers in September. He recently appeared in his first career game vs. Kansas State and has gained more than 25 points of muscle since his arrival.
Other Tidbits
- Senior guard Jordan Geist, who had surpassed 20 points in a game just once in his career (28 vs. Green Bay on Dec. 9, 2017), scored 20+ in back-to-back games in the Virgin Islands, including 21 points vs. Oregon State and 24 vs. No. 12 Kansas State. He earned Paradise Jam All-Tournament team honors for his efforts.
- Geist is the only Mizzou player with more than 20 points in a game this season. In those two 20+-point outings, Geist committed just four total turnovers in 62 total minutes.
- Geist is living at the free throw line, making 11 more free throws as any other Tiger this season. He made a career-high 12 free throws vs. Oregon State. He is one of just three players in the SEC to make that many in a single game this season and one of 41 players nationally. Geist is 25-of-31 at the charity stripe over the last four games. He ranks seventh in the SEC in free throw percentage (78.8 percent).
- Sophomore Jeremiah Tilmon recently secured his third career double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds vs. Temple. He grabbed all 10 rebounds in the second half.
- Mizzou continues to be a stout defensive team under Coach Martin. When Mizzou holds teams under 65 points, it is 3-0.
- Mizzou is holding opponents to just 31.7 rebounds per game, which ranks fourth among SEC teams.
- Mizzou is second in the SEC in defensive rebound percentage (.754).
Players Mentioned
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