Missouri’s D’Moi Hodge, from left, Kobe Brown, Tre Gomillion and Kaleb Brown have a good time a basket within the ultimate minutes of their 89-75 victory over Kentucky in an NCAA faculty basketball recreation Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2022, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photograph/L.G. Patterson)
The shocking Missouri Tigers continued to reign over the area by following their Braggin’ Rights upset of Illinois by routing Kentucky 89-75 of their Southeastern Convention opener.
They are going to be feeling nationwide love, too. Gary Parrish ranked them 18th in his Prime 25 and 1 rating Sunday. Mike DeCourcy’s bracket projection for Fox Sports activities had the Tigers as a No. 7 seed.
ESPN’s Jeff Borzello made Missouri ahead Kobe Brown his participant of the week. He wrote:
Brown’s back-to-back efforts in opposition to Illinois and Kentucky are unmatched by anybody this season, when contemplating the top-25 opposition in each video games. Towards the Illini within the Tigers’ blowout win, Brown completed with 31 factors, 5 rebounds, eight assists and 4 steals. After which in Missouri’s 89-75 win over Kentucky, Brown ran it again with 30 factors and 6 rebounds. Within the two video games, he averaged 31.5 factors, 5.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 3.0 steals, 61.9 FG%, 58.3 3PT%, 87.5 FT%. Brown caught it out in Columbia by the teaching change from Cuonzo Martin to Dennis Gates, and he is taking part in the perfect basketball of his profession.
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If the NCAA Event started this week, the Tigers can be in it.
Missouri State additionally loved a giant week, scoring Missouri Valley Convention victories at Northern Iowa and at residence in opposition to Drake. After a tough go in non-conference play, the Bears (3-1 in league play) are hitting stride when it actually counts.
Elsewhere within the space, SLU regained traction by successful at Saint Joseph’s and Illinois loved its walkover in opposition to Bethune-Cookman to place a bow on the vacation season.
SEMO snapped its eight-game shedding streak on the expense of SIU Edwardsville and Division I newcomer Lindenwood earned its first Ohio Valley Convention victory.
Right here is how the area’s Division I groups stack up:
Missouri (12-1): It’s laborious to imagine we’re seeing the identical Kobe Brown who scored simply 4 factors in opposition to Kansas and 6 factors at Wichita State. However the Tigers have many offensive threats they usually take turns stepping up at key factors within the recreation. D’Moi Hodge scored 15 factors in opposition to the Wildcats and hit an important 3-pointer than snapped a scoring drought. Sean East II scored seven straight factors throughout a span of the primary half, and DeAndre Gholston had his take-over moments within the second half of his 12-point recreation to maintain the Tigers accountable for the sport. Aside from the Kansas recreation, which was a catastrophe from begin to end, Missouri has been capable of finding any person to get scorching and cease an opposing run this season.
Illinois (9-4): After leaving St. Louis with nothing to go Braggin’ about after their blowout loss to Mizzou, the Illini acquired again to work in apply. They took out some frustration on Bethune-Cookman Thursday, racing to a 47-19 halftime lead. This was a far cry from their sleepy first half-hour in opposition to Alabama A&M. This time round Dain Dainja dominated with 22 factors and 6 rebounds in what grew to become an 85-52 victory. On the down aspect, Matthew Mayer and RJ Melendez mixed to overlook 12-of-14 photographs from 3-point vary, so there’s nonetheless work to do because the Illini get again to the Huge Ten wars.
SLU (9-5): Gibson Jimerson is again! He poured in a season-high 22 factors because the Billikens acquired again on observe with an 83-78 victory at Saint Joseph’s to open Atlantic 10 play. Jimerson scored simply three factors within the loss to SIU Edwardsville and 4 factors within the loss to Boise State. Javon Pickett, who scored simply two factors in opposition to SIUE, broke out for 20 factors, Yuri Collins acquired again into distribution mode by dishing 15 assists and trying simply two photographs from the ground. In brief, this was the crew coach Travis Ford anticipated to have all alongside this season.
SIU Carbondale (11-4): Salukis coach Bryan Mullins has recognized the correct participant mixtures for his crew, which has rolled to 6 consecutive victories. Lance Jones (21 factors, 4 assists) and Marcus Domask (20 factors, 11 rebounds, six assists) did their factor in SIU Carbondale’s 63-57 victory at MVC newcomer Murray State Thursday. And Jones (16 factors, three steals) and Domask (14 factors, 5 assists) led the best way because the Salukis routed MVC newcomer Belmont 63-45 Sunday.
SIU Edwardsville (10-5): Shamar Wright scored a season-high 18 factors and had 5 rebounds, 5 assists and three steals because the Cougars rolled over Tennessee Tech 64-51 Thursday. Ray’Sean Taylor (14 factors, seven rebounds) and DeeJuan Pruitt (13 factors, six rebounds) additionally had usually sturdy video games. Then SIUE fell 82-73 at SEMO in its first OVC highway recreation. Taylor poured in 23 factors, Lamar Wright added 12 and Damarco Minor went 10-for-10 from the free-throw line – however he fouled out after taking part in 27 minutes. The Cougars turned the ball over 16 instances and earned simply 12 assists.
Missouri State (7-7): Georgia switch Dalen Rignal led the Bears to its 79-67 victory at Northern Iowa Wednesday with 24 factors and 11 rebounds. Damien Mayo Jr. added 13 factors, three assists and two steals. Then the Bears edged Drake 52-47 at residence Sunday with Donovan Clay producing the form of efficiency coach Dana Ford has been anticipating this season: 15 factors, eight rebounds 5 assists and 4 blocked photographs. Colorado State switch Kendle Moore scored 28 factors in these two season-reversing victories whereas hitting 6-of-14 photographs from 3-point vary.
SEMO (6-9): The Redhawks fell quick at OVC newcomer Southern Indiana 86-81 Thursday regardless of getting 16 factors, 9 rebounds, three assists and two steals from Chris Harris. Level guard Phillip Russell fouled out after scoring simply six factors in 23 minutes. Then SEMO lastly broke by for a victory, dealing with SIUE 82-73 with Russell scoring 19 factors and dishing seven assists. Harris and Dylan Branson every scored 14 factors and Josh Early added 12. Coach Brad Korn has handled injures all season and solely three gamers have seen motion in all 15 video games. If wholesome, SEMO can nonetheless be an element within the OVC this season.
Lindenwood (6-9): The Lions are proving to be aggressive of their first OVC season after shifting up from Division II. They took an excellent run at Jap Illinois earlier than falling 55-54 Thursday. Cam Burrell scored 17 factors, grabbed 11 rebounds and blocked three photographs within the loss. Then the Lions bounced again Saturday to hammer Tennessee Tech 82-64 at residence. Burrell led the best way with 19 factors and 11 rebounds and Kevin Caldwell Jr. had 14 factors and 6 assists and Chris Childs added 11 factors and 4 assists.