Sunday, January 13
Columbia, SC
12 PM
University of Missouri
at
South Carolina
@MizzouHoops Travels to South Carolina to Take On the Gamecocks on Saturday
1/11/2019 8:55:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Tip off is set for 12 p.m. CT on SEC Network
| Mizzou Travels to South Carolina for SEC Road Opener | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OPPONENT | LOCATION | DAY | TIME (CT) | WATCH | LISTEN | STATS | Game Notes |
| South Carolina | Columbia, S.C. | Saturday, Jan. 12 | 12 p.m. | SEC Network | KTGR | Stats | Notes |
Storylines
- Mizzou and South Carolina square off for the ninth time in their program histories. Mizzou has won two of the last three meetings.
- Last season, Mizzou took down the Gamecocks on the road, 79-68. It was Mizzou's first double-digit road win in league play since the Tigers downed the Gamecocks, 90-68, on Feb. 28, 2013.
- A win on Saturday would give Mizzou victories in its conference road opener in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1993-94 (at Colorado, 80-72) and 1994-95 (at No. 19 Nebraska, 82-74).
- Head coach Cuonzo Martin is 6-0 all-time in his career vs. South Carolina.
- In Martin's first season at the helm at Mizzou, the Tigers won four road games in league play, the most in a campaign by a Mizzou team since 2011-12.
- Mizzou recently finished an undefeated month of December for the first time since 2011-12, for the third time this century and for just the eighth time since 1930.
- Mizzou has held opponents to 69 or fewer points 30 times in the Martin era, which amounts to 65.2 percent of the games with him at the helm. When the Tigers have done so this season, they are 9-0.
- Mizzou is attacking the glass this season. It has outrebounded its opponent 10 times in 13 games to begin the season. The Tigers have done that 32 times in 46 games during the Martin era. Mizzou is limiting opponents to 32.4 rebounds per game, which ranks fourth in the SEC.
- Mizzou leads the SEC in 3-point field goal percentage and ranks 24th nationally in that category, shooting 39.1 from beyond the arc. From 2012-17, Mizzou shot 32.4 percent from 3-point range. In the Martin era, Mizzou is shooting 38.6 percent from deep. Mizzou has made 82 triples over the last eight games, shooting 41.8 percent from beyond the arc in that span. Sophomore Mark Smith is the top 3-point shooter in the SEC (47.1 percent).
Santos Settling In To Rotation
- After battling a foot injury that sidelined him for most of November & December, sophomore forward K.J. Santos has played 20+ minutes in back-to-back games, scoring seven points vs. Tennessee.
- The 6-8, 220-pound Santos hadn't played since March 22, 2017. At Illinois-Chicago, he started 30 games and scored at least seven points 19 times.
Hot Shooting From Smith Continues
- Mark Smith has been a vital addition to the Tigers' roster after receiving a waiver for immediate eligibility from the NCAA.
- He scored a career-high 22-point performance vs. Morehead State, draining four 3-pointers.
- Smith has 152 points, 70 rebounds and 48 triples in 13 games. He notched 179 points, 42 rebounds and 16 triples all of last season at Illinois.
- He is ripping the nets at a 47.1 percent clip from beyond the arc after shooting 23.2 percent from 3-point range as a freshman. That leads the SEC and ranks 15th nationally through 13 games. His 2.5 3-pointers per game 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 10 times 13 contests. Smith has hit at least one triple in his last 14 games.
- Smith leads Mizzou with 60 defensive rebounds. He grabbed 24 in 31 games last season.
- Before this season, Smith hadn't reached double figures since scoring 11 points against Mizzou on Dec. 23, 2017. He's done so seven times this season.
- Through 13 games, Smith's 47.1 percent clip from 3-point range would be the sixth-best in a single-season in program history.
- Over Mizzou's last four wins, he is averaging 13.5 points and 6.0 rebounds.
Freshmen Trio Playing Big Role
- During the Tigers' recent six-game win streak Mizzou's freshmen trio of Javon Pickett, Xaver Pinson and Torrence Watson combined for 21.6 points per game.
- Pickett has started every game this season. He scored a career-high 16 points on 7-of-8 shooting vs. Illinois. Pickett has made multiple triples in three of his last six games.
- Watson has scored 38 total points and shot 10-of-21 from beyond the arc over the last six games.
- Pinson is averaging 14.2 points and 5.4 assists per 40 minutes. He had 14 points and made 7-of-8 at the charity stripe vs. No. 3 Tennessee.
- All three freshmen are shooting at least 35.9 percent from 3-point range.
Players Mentioned
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