Tuesday, December 18
Columbia, Mo.
6 PM
University of Missouri
vs
Xavier
@MizzouHoops Faces Xavier Tuesday to Wrap Up Homestand
12/17/2018 5:29:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Tip off is set for 6 p.m. CT on ESPNU
| Mizzou Seeks Fourth Consecutive Victory on Tuesday vs. Xavier | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OPPONENT | LOCATION | DAY | TIME (CT) | WATCH | LISTEN | STATS | Game Notes |
| Xavier | Columbia, Mo. | Tuesday, Dec. 18 | 6 p.m. | ESPNU | KTGR | Stats | Notes |
Promotions
- Teddy Bear Toss: Bring a Teddy Bear to toss on the court at halftime to benefit a local Columbia kid in need!
- Trading Card Giveaway: The first of four trivia card giveaways features Kevin Puryear, Ronnie Suggs, Mitchell Smith, Dru Smith and K.J. Santos. Start collecting the whole set Tuesday night.
Storylines
- Mizzou faces Xavier for the eighth time in program history and the third time in Columbia. The Tigers and Musketeers have squared off three times since 2014. Mizzou is looking for its first win in the series since beating Xavier, 72-60, at the Wooden Tradition event in Indianapolis on Nov. 24, 2001. Mizzou is 24-23 all-time vs. Big East opponents.
- The Tigers are looking for their fourth consecutive victory and their third win streak of four or more games during the Cuonzo Martin era. Before Martin took over at the helm, Mizzou hadn't accomplished that feat since the 2013-14 campaign.
- Mizzou has held opponents under 70 points 28 times in the Martin era. When the Tigers have done so this season, they are 6-0.
- Mizzou is coming off a season-high 80-point outburst against Oral Roberts. The Tigers hit a season-high 12, 3-pointers, making 10+ triples for the third time during the current five-game homestand.
- Mizzou is attacking the glass this season. It has outrebounded its opponent seven times in nine games to begin the season. The Tigers have done that 29 times in 42 games during the Martin era. Mizzou is limiting opponents to 31.8 rebounds per game, which ranks fourth in the SEC.
- Mizzou leads the SEC in 3-point field goal percentage, shooting 39.0 from beyond the arc. From 2012-17, Mizzou shot 32.4 percent from 3-point range. In the Martin era, Mizzou is shooting 38.4 percent from deep. Mizzou has made 53 triples over the last five games, shooting 46.5 percent from beyond the arc in that span.
- When Mizzou has committed fewer turnovers than its opponent this season, it is 6-0.
- Sophomore Jeremiah Tilmon has been impressively efficient during Mizzou's current homestand, shooting 57.7 percent from the field and scoring 46 total points over the last four games.
Iron Man
- Senior Kevin Puryear has appeared in 32 more career games than anyone else on Mizzou's roster, earning 98 career starts.
- Puryear is two starts away from becoming the first Tiger to reach the century mark since Kim English in 2012. He would be the 15th Tiger to do so.
- Puryear could become the seventh Tiger in program history with at least 1,000 career points, 500 career rebounds & 100 career starts, joining Kelly Thames, Steve Stipanovich, Arthur Johnson, Derrick Chievous, Doug Smith & Jevon Crudup.
- Puryear ranks 35th on Mizzou's all-time scoring list with 1,100 career points and counting. He is 13 points shy of surpassing legend Norm Stewart.
Freshmen Trio in a Groove
- Over the last three games, Mizzou's freshmen trio of Javon Pickett, Xaver Pinson and Torrence Watson have combined for 24.7 points per game and 48.4 percent shooting from beyond the arc while committing just six total turnovers.
- Pickett has started every game this season. His career-high 13 points proved key vs. UCF. He added 10 points vs. UT Arlington, reaching double digits in back-to-back games for the first time in his career. Pickett has grabbed at least four rebounds in five games this season.
- Watson has scored 24 total points and shot 7-of-10 from beyond the arc over the last two games.
- Pinson tossed in seven points vs. UTA. He scored a season-best 12 points against No. 12 Kansas State.
- Both Pinson and Watson are shooting above 40 percent from 3-point range.
Smith Continuing Strong Start
- Mark Smith has been a vital addition to the Tigers' roster after receiving a waiver for immediate eligibility from the NCAA.
- Smith has 104 points, 46 rebounds and 22 triples in nine games. He notched 179 points, 42 rebounds and 16 triples all of last season at Illinois.
- He is ripping the nets at a 47.8 percent clip from beyond the arc after shooting 23.2 percent from 3-point range as a freshman. That ranks second in the SEC through nine games. His 2.4 3-pointers per contest are tied for sixth in the league.
- Smith had never made multiple triples in back-to-back games in his career prior to Mizzou. He's done so five times in the last six contests.
- Smith leads Mizzou with 39 defensive rebounds. He grabbed 24 in 31 games last season.
- 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. 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.
- Before this season, Smith hadn't reached double figures since scoring 11 points against Mizzou on Dec. 23, 2017. He's do so five times this season.
- Through nine games, Smith's 47.8 percent clip from 3-point range would be the fourth-best in a single-season in program history.
Players Mentioned
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