University of Missouri
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Mississippi State
@MizzouHoops vs. Mississippi State on Saturday for #RallyForRhyan Game
2/9/2018 5:26:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Third-annual #RallyForRhyan game tips off at 1 p.m. CT, Saturday on ESPN2
Mizzou Men's Basketball (16-8, 6-5) returns to Columbia, Missouri, for the third-annual #RallyForRhyan Game, played this season against Mississippi State (18-6, 6-5) in support of Rhyan Loos' ongoing fight against neuroblastoma, a form of pediatric cancer. Live coverage can be found on ESPN2 and the Tiger Radio Network.
Story Lines
- Named after Mizzou Athletics' staff member Brad Loos' seven-year-old daughter, Rhyan's fight against pediatric cancer has spawned its own charitable campaign to fund cancer research. Fans are encouraged to donate and support the cause on Saturday at Mizzou Arena. The game is also serving as Mizzou's annual Gold Rush Game, in which fans are asked to sport their Gold-oriented Mizzou attire.
- Head coach Cuonzo Martin has turned the Mizzou program back around in remarkable fashion. At 16-8 overall, the Tigers have doubled last season's win total (8-24). Through 24 games last season, the Tigers were 7-17 and 2-10 in conference action.
- Graduate senior guard Kassius Robertson was announced as the SEC's Player of the Week on Monday, Feb. 5, and followed that by dropping a season-best 27 points in the 75-69 win at Ole Miss.
- Robertson has averaged 21.2 points per game over his last five games, along with an average of 21.7 points per game during Mizzou's three-game winning streak.
- Robertson has averaged 16.4 points per game overall, a total that sets him apart as the nation's highest-scoring graduate transfer at the high major level (as of Feb. 6).
- Martin has installed his patented defensive approach, while also shaping a sharp-shooting squad. Mizzou ranks in the nation's Top 50 in both off. (55.2, 32nd) and def. (45.4, 9th) effective FG percentage.
#RallyForRhyan
- Mizzou's third-annual #RallyForRhyan Game will be the theme and cause for the Tigers' Saturday, Feb. 10 matchup with Mississippi State.
- Played in support of Mizzou Athletics' staff member Brad Loos' seven-year old daughter, Rhyan, the #RallyForRhyan movement began to raise awareness for Rhyan's ongoing fight against pediatric cancer. More than $100,000 was raised across the first two #RallyForRhyan games, including more than $54,000 during last season's game against Arkansas, an 83-78 Tiger victory.
- Cash donations towards pediatric cancer research will again be accepted on the concourse. A 50/50 raffle and a silent auction are also planned.
Scouting Mississippi State
- Mississippi State got the best of Mizzou in a hard-fought contest in Starkville earlier this season, turning the Tigers away, 74-62 (Jan. 27). Mizzou had an out-of-the-ordinary night from deep range, only sinking 6-of-22 three-pointers (.273) in the setback.
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Graduate senior guard Kassius Robertson scored 20 points on 8-of-14 field goal shooting, while junior Cullen VanLeer added 10 points on a perfect 4-for-4 night from the field.
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MSU's Quinndary Weatherspoon has led the Bulldogs in scoring in conference play, averaging 15.8 points per game.
Kash Money
- Graduate senior guard Kassius Robertson earned Southeastern Conference Player of the Week for his leading role in Mizzou's wins at Alabama (Jan. 31, 69-60) and vs. No. 21 Kentucky (Feb. 3, 69-60), as he averaged 19.0 points across the two victories.
- And not to let that accomplishment go unanswered, Robertson followed up his award with a season-best 27 points in the 75-69 at Ole Miss (Feb. 6). Robertson has averaged 21.2 points per game over his last five games, dishing out multiple assists in all five contests.
- Robertson's weekly honor from the conference office was also significant in that it was Mizzou's first in four seasons of basketball. The last time a Tiger earned SEC Player of the Week before Robertson's recognition was during the 2013-14 season when former guard Jordan Clarkson earned the award on Dec. 30, 2013.
- The graduate transfer from Canisius is averaging a solid 16.4 points per game, a total that ranks No. 1 among graduate transfers playing at the high major level. That total stands as fifth-best overall among all graduate transfers across NCAA Division I.
- Robertson has six 20-point games out of Mizzou's 11 conference games played, thus far.
- Robertson is one of three players in the SEC averaging 15.0 points per game while shooting at least 40.0 percent from the field, 40.0 percent from three-point range and 80.0 from the free throw line, according to Basketball-Reference.com.
- Robertson's 72 three-pointers on the season rank tied for sixth all-time on the program's single-season three-pointers by a senior chat.
#RallyForRhyan History
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Mizzou was victorious when the first-ever #RallyForRhyan Game was played, defeating Tennessee by a score of 75-64 (Feb. 13, 2016).
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Then-senior forward Ryan Rosburg led the way for the Tigers with 21 points on solid 8-for-9 shooting from the field. Then-freshman forward Kevin Puryear added 17 points to the winning effort.
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More than $50,000 was raised for pediatric cancer research that day and in the following days, making the event a resounding success for the Loos Family and Mizzou Basketball Family.
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The Tigers improved to 2-0 in #RallyForRhyan games in 2016-17, taking down Arkansas, 83-78 (Feb. 4, 2017). Then-junior forward Jordan Barnett led the way for the Tigers with 17 points.
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Donations totaled more than $54,000 after the second edition of the event, bringing the combined effort to more than $100,000 raised for pediatric cancer research from #RallyForRhyan games.
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Learn more about Rhyan Loos' recovery and the ongoing charitable efforts at RallyForRhyan.org.
More Story Lines
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Mizzou is devoted to keeping its opponents off the boards, allowing just 32.9 rebounds per game in league action, which ranks No. 2 in the SEC. Mizzou ranks second in the SEC in scoring defense, holding opponents to 66.8 points per game.
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Head coach Cuonzo Martin claimed his 200th career victory as Mizzou won on the road at Alabama (Jan. 31), 69-60.
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Freshman forward Jontay Porter is one of just five players nationally to have compiled at least 45 assists (49) and 45 blocks (48) this season, according to Basketball-Reference.com.
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Mizzou has outrebounded its opponents in 19-of-24 games. The Tigers rank second in the SEC in rebounding margin (+6.2) in overall games.
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Graduate senior guard Kassius Robertson became the first Tiger to score 20 points or more in three consecutive games since the 2013-14 season after his 23-point game at South Carolina (Jan. 3). Robertson scored 22 vs. Illinois (Dec. 23) and 23 vs. Stephen F. Austin (Dec. 19).
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Robertson accomplished the feat for a second time by completing the trifecta with 22 points at Alabama (Jan. 31). The Toronto, Ontario, native recorded 21 points vs. No. 19 Auburn (Jan. 24) and 20 points at Mississippi State (Jan. 27).
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Robertson leads the league in overall minutes played and in conference games-only, averaging 35.0 and 37.8 minutes, respectively.
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Robertson ranks second in SEC games for free throw percentage, sinking 92.3 percent of his foul shots (48-of-52).
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Senior forward Jordan Barnett ranks fourth in the SEC in minutes played overall and fifth in conference games (33.0; 34.7).
Up Next
- The Tigers continue at Mizzou Arena for an SEC matchup vs. Texas A&M on Tuesday, Feb. 13, with tipoff slated for 6 p.m. CT on ESPNU.
- The Tigers fell to the Aggies earlier this season on the road by a score of 60-49 (Jan. 20).
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