Missouri basketball is gearing up for the most critical part of their season, and senior transfer Isiaih Mosley has been providing the sparkplug the squad needs. As he makes his way back into the rotation after being noticeably absent from late December to early January, Mosley’s impact can’t be understated, especially on the offensive side of the floor. The first-year Tiger recorded 20 points, five assists, one rebound and two steals in 29 minutes of play against the Ole Miss Rebels on Jan. 24, an important conference win for Tiger hoops.
The catch? It was Mosley’s first start of the season, but the 6-foot-5 guard was instantly notable, making significant effort on both sides of the court. In that game, the Tigers made 16 3-pointers, its most since joining the Southeastern Conference, with Mosley contributing four of them. He shot 4-7 from behind the arc, marking his most productive outing of the season so far from 3-point range.
To begin the game, Mosley grabbed a steal, which led to an instant layup. In the next possession, Mosley stole the ball again, making two crucial defensive stops early in the first half.
On the ensuing offensive possessions, Mosley took on the role of playmaker, dishing out assists on three straight 3-pointers. The rest of the first half only meant more points for the Missouri State transfer, going 3-5 from 3-point range until halftime.
The Tigers continued to dominate the second half with Mosley at the helm of the offense, tacking on 7 more points and two more assists as the Tigers jumped out to a significant lead over the Rebels,
Mosley’s continued effort ensured that the Tiger’s lead was safe.
Missouri went on to defeat Ole Miss 89-77 — Isiaih Mosley’s performance imperative to the win. His absence for several games this season had led to many questions from Missouri fans about his long-term availability, but Mosley has consistently silenced any doubts surrounding his abilities.
Mosley was one of the most skilled scorers in college hoops last season at Missouri State, and Tiger fans are now seeing the potential that he brings out in Coach Dennis Gates’ offense. Since the game on Jan. 24, Mosley has shot 50% from the 3-point line, continuing his trend of efficient shooting from range.
As for Gates, he sees Mosley as a player “that can create, but also a guy that draws attention”, and judging from this performance, Missouri basketball fans will be seeing Mosley on the court more often as the Tigers start to look towards the NCAA Tournament come March.
Edited by Matt Guzman | mguzman@themaneater.comCopy edited by Mary Philip