Game notes: Basketball battles from slow start
Published Nov. 13, 2009
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Senior guard Zaire Taylor goes up for a shot against bearcat junior forward Elijah Allen on Friday at Mizzou Arena. Taylor was three for five in the field and made one out of two free throws for a total of seven points.
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Junior forward Justin Safford tries to break free from Northwest Missouri guard Edriss Floyd and forward Maciej Ustarbowski Friday's game at Mizzou Arena. The Tigers pulled ahead in the second half to finish with a win 83 to 60.
Tigers get off to a slow start
A week after dominating Truman State, Missouri had a tougher time breaking through against Northwest Missouri State. The visitors drew first blood and put the Tigers into an early 10-5 hole. Missouri was able to work its way back but was fending off the Bearcats for most of the first half.
“Honestly, I wouldn’t consider that a great game,” sophomore forward Laurence Bowers said. “We’re going to have to step our game up, period. I’m glad we got this win, but it was ugly. And I feel like Tuesday, (Tennessee-Martin) is going to be a pretty good team. So I just want to be consistent.”
Overall, the Tigers shot 39.5 percent from the field in the first half and saw that number drop to 36.4 percent in the second half.
“We weren’t making shots and they made shots," coach Mike Anderson said. "They came out with a lot more energy. If you look at it, we shot (38 percent) for the game. But we end up winning by 23. We’re not going to shoot it great every night, and we know that.”
Michael Dixon shines
Missouri freshman guard Michael Dixon is quickly making a name for himself. The 2009 Missouri High School Player of the Year came into the game against Northwest Missouri State in the second half and promptly ripped off seven points.
“He’s going to have a key role on this team,” senior guard Zaire Taylor said. “I mean, our bench production is essential. That was our identity last year, and it’s going to be a strong part of our team this year.”
Dixon also has a fan in Anderson.
“I thought he came in and did the things he was supposed to do,” Anderson said. “I thought he came out with a lot of energy, and when it was necessary, he made some shots. His energy was contagious out there.”
Overall, Dixon played 13 minutes and recorded seven points. In last week’s game against Truman State, he logged 17 minutes and contributed 10 points.
Missouri rolls in exhibition games
As they have done since Anderson took over the team, the Tigers dominated opponents during exhibition play. Missouri dropped 96 points on Truman State and 83 on Northwest Missouri State. The Tigers are now 8-0 in preseason games under Anderson. Seven of those eight games have come against teams from Missouri, the only exception being a game in 2006 against the Lithuanian Academy.
This was the fourth meeting between the Tigers and Bearcats. With its win Friday night, Missouri improved to 4-0 against Northwest Missouri State.
Tigers ready for new season
The end of exhibition play signals the beginning of the regular season for the Tigers. On Tuesday, Missouri will officially open its season against Tennessee-Martin.
The Skyhawks won their exhibition game Nov. 9 against Rhodes College and open the regular season against Southern Illinois on Nov. 14.
Junior guard Rueben Clayton had 33 points in Tennessee-Martin’s exhibition win.