Missouri’s Amari Davis, right, tries to shoot around Utah’s Marco Anthony during the game on Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021 at Mizzou Arena in Columbia. Davis scored 17 points during the game, second only to Kevin Brown’s 27.
Missouri men’s basketball added a significant win to its resume Saturday afternoon with an 83-75 win against Utah, improving to 6-5 this season.
Missouri head coach Cuonzo Martin chose to go in a new direction. Instead of starting junior guard Amari Davis and sophomore forward Jordan Wilmore, he gave freshman forward Trevon Brazile and freshman guard Anton Brookshire the first starts of their college careers.
“I felt like they earned it in practice,” Martin said. “It’s not all about whether you are going to score, but are you going to defend and rebound? And I thought they did that,” Martin said.
The Tigers started stronger offensively then they have most of the season. Senior guard Javon Pickett finished the afternoon with 12 points, scoring two baskets to start the game.
After junior forward Kobe Brown picked up two early fouls, Martin needed to sit him for the majority of the first half. Without Brown, Missouri relied on sophomore forward Ronnie DeGray III, who scored a three-point basket and a couple rebounds, along with Brazile, who made two blocks to keep the Tigers within 1 point at halftime.
After the break, Brown took over the game. He opened the half with three-and-1’s and provided the Tigers momentum through his timely baskets.
“I knew my team needed me, and I couldn’t wait to get out there and help my team,” Brown said.
Brown finished with a career-high 27 points with an assist and a steal.
Down 65-60 with seven minutes remaining, DeGray knocked down a corner 3-pointer, which gave Missouri momentum and forced the Utes to return to playing man-to-man defense.
Redshirt junior guard Jarron Coleman also stepped up for the Tigers, hitting an important three-point basket with 34.7 seconds remaining, which extended Missouri’s lead to five.
Davis finished the game with 17 points, knocking down many mid-range jump shots.
“I felt like I really needed to bounce back,” Davis said. “After struggling last week, it was really important to me that I get back on the right track.”
Missouri will look to build off its momentum as they face Illinois for the Braggin’ Rights game this Wednesday in St. Louis.
Edited by Kyle Pinnell | kpinnell@themaneater.com