Columbia, MO – The 12th-ranked Missouri Tigers will try to win their seventh instate contest in a row as they host the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks for non-conference action.
SEMO is 0-9 in its program history versus nationally-ranked opponents, including a season-opening 74-55 loss at Kansas this season. The Redhawks are riding a three-game winning streak into Columbia after taking down Hannibal- LaGrange, New Orleans, and SE Louisiana last week. The three victories in a row brought the team's overall record to 6-4. Coach Dickey Nutt's team is ranked just eighth in the Ohio Valley Conference in scoring offense with 68.9 ppg, but it is third in the league in scoring defense with an allowed average of only 61.5 ppg.
Frank Haith's Tigers improved to 6-1 on Saturday with a 72-56 victory over Appalachian State. The win was the second in a row for the team as it outlasted Virginia Commonwealth for a three-point win in its prior outing. Mizzou's only loss of the season came courtesy of a matchup versus Rick Pitino's Louisville Cardinals. Senior guard Michael Dixon, who has not played at all this season due to a suspension, announced that he will be transferring on Thursday. The Tigers have done fine without him thus far, as they are outscoring their opposition by an average of 10.7 ppg. Missouri is 12-0 in home non-league games under Haith and each of those 12 wins have been by double figures.
Missouri is 6-0 all-time versus SEMO. The Tigers picked up an 83-68 decision on Nov. 11, 2011 in Columbia in the last meeting.
The Redhawks ruined SE Louisiana's winning streak on Saturday by escaping the University Center with a 61-58 triumph. SEMO knocked down 9-of-11 attempts from beyond the arc and limited SLU to 32.3 percent shooting from the floor to escape with the win. Senior guard Corey Wilford went 5-of-5 from three-point range on his way to a game-high 18 points. Sophomore forward Nino Johnson battled inside to record a double-double with 10 points and 16 boards. Junior forward Tyler Stone, who leads the team with 15.8 ppg, finished with 13. Stone and Johnson are averaging a combined 19.1 rebounds per contest. Lucas Nutt is doing a decent job running the point and leads the team with 4.3 apg.
Missouri was able to maintain a double-digit lead for more than three quarters of its game versus Appalachian State on Saturday. The Tigers knocked down 29- of-59 attempts from the field and owned a 45-31 edge in the rebounding battle to power the win. The team did not shoot incredible well from deep (6-of-19 3PT) or the free throw line (8-of-14), but it was not an issue as the Mountaineers were held to 35.6 percent shooting on their field goal attempts. Senior forward Laurence Bowers scored a team-high 23 points on 9-of-11 shooting and junior Earnest Ross chipped in 13 points and nine rebounds. Bowers is one of the few forwards in the NCAA with the ability to score from inside or out, which has led to a team-high average of 15.4 ppg. Junior guard Phil Pressey is contributing 13.6 points and 6.3 assists per contest. Ross (11.3 ppg) and Alex Oriakhi (10.9 ppg, 8.3 rpg) are playing vital roles for Haith's squad as well.
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