Year two of the Dennis Gates era got off to a successful start inside the new-look Mizzou Arena on November 6th, as Missouri knocked off Arkansas-Pine Bluff 101-79.

It was an all-around effort on both ends of the floor for Missouri, with five different Tigers scoring in double digits. The defense forced 16 turnovers and blocked nine shots, while holding Arkansas-Pine Bluff to 27% shooting from 3-point range.

“The rim protection that we were provided from Aidan Shaw and Jordan Butler, and [Trent Pierce] being able to get in there and change some shots … those are some key takeaways,” Gates said.

Graduate student Sean East II got things going early for Missouri. He opened the game with back-to-back threes, scoring 12 of the Tigers first 18 points. He finished the contest with a team-high 21 points in just 21 minutes of action before fouling out.

After East’s early explosion, the game slowed down immensely, with both teams struggling to stay out of foul trouble. There were a combined 27 fouls in the first half, resulting in 33 total free throws.

“I thought we fouled too much,” Gates said. “They shot over 30 free throws and they were fouled 90 feet away from the basket that we were defending. So not having back court fouls is a takeaway, because if we minimize those easy free throws, we may be able to minimize the rhythm that we allowed them to get into.”

Although Gates was unhappy with the amount of fouling in the game, graduate student Caleb Grill was able to capitalize on the sloppy style of play, going 8-for-9 at the free throw line in the first half. He ended with 15 points, as well as seven rebounds.

With 3:44 remaining in the first half, the Golden Lions were keeping the game close, trailing only by seven points before the Tigers ended the half on a 15-5 run led by junior Tamar Bates. The Indiana transfer rattled off 10 consecutive points during the stretch to give Missouri a 57-40 lead entering halftime. He went on to finish the game with 18 points.

“Coach always emphasizes guys that come off the bench being a spark,” Bates said. “I just took advantage of my matchups and my teammates got me the ball when I was open and I just let the game come to me.”

Missouri didn’t look back coming out of halftime, finding themselves up by as much as 32 in the second half. This allowed Gates to give the freshman trio of Trent Pierce, Jordan Butler and Anthony Robinson II their first taste of college basketball. Butler hammered home a powerful slam for the first points of his career, as well as hitting a 3-pointer to end the game. Robinson scored a layup for the first basket of his career, while Pierce was unable to score.

Joining East, Grill and Bates in double-digit scoring were graduate students Nick Honor and Noah Carter. Honor finished the game with 18 points, as well as sharing the team lead of four assists with senior Jesus Carralero Martin. Carter ended the game with 15 points, going 7-of-12 from the field.

Sophomore Aidan Shaw stepped up big in the absence of center Connor Vanover, leading Missouri on the glass with nine rebounds and five blocks, as well as seven points before fouling out of the game.

Missouri’s next contest is on Nov. 10, when they play host to Penny Hardaway’s Memphis Tigers. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m.

Edited by Chase Gemes | cgemes@themaneater.com
Copy edited by Grace Knight | gknight@themaneater.com