Missouri men’s basketball picked up their fourth victory in a row, defeating the Wichita State Shockers 82-72. The Tigers improved to 7-2 after the home victory.

The Tigers began with a 10-0 run, with five of those points coming from graduate guard Nick Honor. Missouri’s defense was aggressive early on, forcing six turnovers in the first six minutes. 

The Shockers eventually got on the scoreboard, though it took until  the 15:30 mark to do so. After a short run by the Shockers, graduate guard Sean East II sent the crowd into a frenzy. East II hit a three for his first points of the night, then followed it up with an ankle-breaking three for his second in a row. This put the Tigers up 18-9.

Wichita battled back and quieted Tiger fans with buckets from sophomore forward Isaac Abidde and junior guard Colby Rogers. This game was one of many runs from both teams, with nobody able to pull away. After the small Shocker run, the Tigers responded with six in a row, four of which came from free throws. This run made the score 24-15 in favor of the Tigers.

The score ping-ponged back and forth for the rest of the first half. Small runs helped the Shockers stay in the game, but also helped the Tigers keep distance with their lead. With 1:12 left, East gave the Tigers the largest lead of the game at 41-32. The Shockers would add two more points to end the period. 

Graduate Caleb Grill excelled in the first half, coming off the bench and scoring seven points. He also grabbed six rebounds in this half, leading the team. East led the team in scoring in the first half with 10 points as well as two assists to only one turnover. 

Junior guard Tamar Bates ignited the crowd early in the second half with a steal and emphatic fast break dunk. Rogers, who finished with 17 points, hit a three to start the scoring for the Shockers. 

Freshman center Jordan Butler got in on the scoring with an open dunk making the score 47-40. The Shockers shrunk the score with another big run, cutting the lead to just three points with 13:03 to play. Only up three, graduate center Connor Vanover hit one of the biggest shots of the game. East threw a hook pass across the court, finding Vanover wide open on the perimeter. Junior center Quincy Ballard for the Shockers responded with a putback layup.

This was a game of responses, as Grill responded to that bucket. He hit a three to put the Tigers up 57-50. Vanover scored again a minute later, putting the Tigers up nine. Both teams proceeded to trade buckets after this.

A dunk by Vanover put the Tigers up 68-59, and it looked like the Tigers were going to pull away. Wichita State put together one final run, giving Missouri a scare. Junior Harlond Beverly The went on a 7-0 run by himself, making the lead 68-66 in favor of the Tigers. It was all due to Beverly, who scored all seven points on the run. Tiger fans were holding their breaths, but Grill and East hit threes to make it 74-68. 

The Tigers closed out the game strong, answering Shocker fouls with made free throws. Missouri won 82-72, responding to the late Wichita State run. 

The Tigers emptied the bench against the Shockers, playing 12 players and seven off the bench. 32 of the Tigers’ points came from players off the bench. 

East registered a season-high of 22 points and also led the Tigers in assists with nine. Honor finished with 15, and Grill finished with 13. Grill also led the team in rebounds, grabbing 10. Most notably, the Tigers forced 18 turnovers to the Shockers’ nine. The Shockers outrebounded Missouri, only securing 32 to Wichita State’s 48.

The tough stretch of games only continues for the Tigers, as they travel to Lawrence, Kansas to play the rival Kansas Jayhawks on Dec. 9. They have two neutral site games afterwards, taking on Seton Hall in Kansas City, Missouri. on Dec. 17. The Tigers will then play Illinois on Dec. 22 in St. Louis, Missouri. 

Copy edited by Grace Knight