Victory over UMR displays team's strengths
The Tigers had a 105-67 victory over UMR.
Published Nov. 8, 2006
The men's basketball team opened up the season, and the Mike Anderson era, with a 105-67 exhibition win over Missouri-Rolla on Friday night.
But there was big news off the court for the team as well.
Before the game, it was announced that sophomore forward Leo Lyons was suspended indefinitely for a violation of the team's academic policy.
With the loss of yet another player, the team was down to 11 players in uniform for the Rolla game.
It didn't seem to matter, as MU never trailed in the rout. Ten of the 11 players got 10 minutes or more playing time, and the 11th, junior Nick Berardini, played for two minutes at the end of the game.
Despite the playing time everyone received, Anderson isn't guaranteeing anything to anyone.
"Nothing is certain with me," he said. "I'm about one thing, that's winning."
MU's win must be kept in perspective — Missouri-Rolla is a Division II team that went 2-25 last season.
Nine of those losses from last season were by 25 points or more.
The Miners were picked to finish last this season in the Great Lakes Valley Conference West Division in the pre-season coaches' poll.
Junior guard Stefhon Hannah led the Tigers with 25 points. Eighteen of those points came in the first half, when he shot 4-5 from behind the arc and 7-11 from the floor.
Hannah credited the points to his teammates' encouragement and his hard work.
"I just expected to play hard; that's what I did," he said.
Hannah added that the conditioning regimen that Anderson has put them through has paid dividends.
"I could have played another game," he said.
Hannah stressed that the team needs to improve its defense and its chemistry on offense.
Junior forward Marshall Brown was second on the team with 20 points.
He narrowly missed a double-double with nine rebounds.
He had two dunks in the first half off passes from Hannah from behind the three-point line. Brown mentioned that he felt that Anderson's system, which emphasizes fast-paced play, suited the team well.
"I think it's tailor-made for a lot of guys on this team," he said.
Hannah also feels comfortable playing in the system.
"It was the first game, but I felt like I played with the team forever," he said.
Anderson said he was mostly pleased with the team's effort, especially the turnover margin. The Tigers forced 36 turnovers and turned the ball over 17 times. MU scored 44 points off turnovers to UMR's eight.
Anderson said he stresses deflections to his team, and by his count they had 20 in the first half alone.
Anderson did say that the rebounding, especially long rebounding, needed to improve.
"We've got to do all the dirty work," he said.
The Tigers out-rebounded the Miners by the slim margin of 47-46, and Missouri-Rolla led in the rebounding category for much of the game.
UMR forward Tyrone Davidson was the only player in the game with a double-double, scoring 17 points and grabbing 12 rebounds.