Early second half surge helps Mizzou Hoops pick up Top-15 victory over Iowa State

Searching for a signature victory so as to add to its résumé, the Missouri Tigers answered the decision in opposition to the No. 12 Iowa State Cyclones on Saturday in Columbia.

The matchup featured two groups ranked among the many top-five in defensive effectivity, however offensive effectivity proved to be the distinction, because the Tigers withstood a fierce Cyclones’ protection in a 78-61 victory.

Mizzou shot 49.1% from the sector, together with a 46.7% tally from past the arc, signaling the indicators of a turnaround following final week’s abysmal 3-point efficiency in opposition to Alabama. Defensively, the Tiger wreaked havoc as effectively, forcing 19 Iowa State turnovers and turning these into 20 factors.

“Typically you may’t management makes or misses,” Missouri males’s basketball head coach Dennis Gates mentioned. “However in the end you may have nice shot choice and clearly get again on protection and provides your best possible.”

The previous Huge 8/Huge 12 foes met for the ultimate rendition of the SEC-Huge 12 Problem, which might be changed with an ACC-SEC Problem starting subsequent season. Mizzou channelled its Huge 8 success of the Eighties in opposition to the Cyclones whereas celebrating Alumni Weekend.

4 totally different Tigers scored in double-figures, led by Kobe Brown who scored a game-high 20 factors and added 12 rebounds for his second double-double of the season. Graduate guard D’Moi Hodge added 17 factors and 5 rebounds.

Brown placed on a present in entrance of a sellout crowd, terrorizing the offensive glass with 5 offensive rebounds whereas including three assists and three steals in an all-around efficiency.

“(Brown) was so bodily and aggressive,” Iowa State males’s basketball head coach T.J. Otzelberger mentioned. “He’s powerful matchup. He’s a tough cowl, however I’d say, greater than that, was how aggressive he was and his intent.”

Brown’s influence regarded as if it’d decline when he fell to the bottom and grabbed his ankle following a foul below the basket late within the first half, however the senior ahead displayed his toughness, checking in minutes later and instantly making a distinction on the boards.

Graduate guards Nick Honor and Hodge mixed for 29 factors on 9-of-17 taking pictures from the 3-point line. Their influence started instantly and featured a facet of the Tigers’ potent offense that had been missing in opposition to premier opponents.

Senior guards Jaren Holmes and Gabe Kalscheur led the Cyclones offensively with 19 and 14 factors, respectively.

Mizzou and Iowa State embodied the ‘3 and D’ mentality from tipoff, as each groups compelled turnovers on their first defensive possessions.

The Cyclones, in response to a Hodge turnover, scored their first factors by way of a layup on the following possession, whereas Honor drilled a 3-pointer to jumpstart the Mizzou offense.

That recipe continued all through a primary half that included totals of 11 three-pointers, 17 turnovers and 14 factors off turnovers, every of which favored the hometown Tigers.

“Our guys compelled a fantastic workforce to 19 turnovers,” Gates mentioned.

Mizzou jumped out to an early six-point benefit, capitalizing on Honor’s make in addition to a 3-pointer from Brown, who scored 14 first half factors alongside 5 rebounds within the opening body.

From there, the Tigers and Cyclones traded a collection of runs, showcasing their respective strengths.

Mizzou flashed its velocity, free throw taking pictures and shot-making skill, whereas Iowa State found a wholesome steadiness between its 3-point taking pictures and photographs inside the arc.

Iowa State, trailing 15-8, drilled a quartet of 3-pointers as part of a run halfway by the primary half that flipped their deficit right into a one-point benefit.

Their flurry proved to be short-lived, nonetheless, as Mizzou fought again with its personal environment friendly stretch, outscoring the Cyclones 8-1 over the next two minutes.

Senior guard Isiaih Mosley, who completed with eight factors, ignited the run with a vital 3-pointer that gave the Tigers the lead for good.

“That run to finish the primary half, I feel gave us some momentum,” Gates mentioned.

Mizzou entered the halftime locker room with a 42-32 benefit regardless of being out-rebounded 21-10 together with a -9 margin on the offensive glass. Even with these added probabilities, Iowa State solely materialized 9 second-chance factors, simply 5 greater than the Tigers.

Following the intermission, Mizzou took off proper the place it left off.

Honor, the third-leading Tigers’ scorer with 12 factors, drilled a pair of 3-pointers, as Mizzou stormed out of the gate on a 13-5 run. Mosley capped the stretch with one other 3-pointer, this day off an Iowa State turnover.

The Cyclones turned to Kalscheur to quiet the surge, and the senior guard scored eight of Iowa State’s subsequent 14 factors to maintain them inside hanging distance. After every make, nonetheless, the Tigers had a solution.

DeAndre Gholston, who tallied eight second half factors, offered probably the most emphatic punch with a four-point play halfway by the ultimate body, draining a 3-point jumper whereas being fouled.

Needing a spark of momentum, the Cyclones countered with a 6-0 run, however scored solely 5 factors within the recreation’s closing seven minutes. The Tigers held Iowa State to 25% taking pictures within the second half and compelled eight extra turnovers.

“To have a Quad One win in January is essential,” Gates mentioned.

After enhancing to 3-3 within the SEC-Huge 12 Problem and selecting up solely its fourth victory over the Huge 12 since its departure, Mizzou will face LSU at 8 p.m. on Wednesday in Columbia, trying to decide up one other SEC victory and enhance to above-.500 in convention play.