(Photo by L.G. Patterson/Associated Press)
It’s been awhile since Mizzou Arena was rocking, and it erupted several Friday night when Missouri pulled past previously unbeaten Northern Illinois 78-71. Kevin Puryear lead the way with 17 points and the Tigers got huge bursts of energy at critical times to seal the win.
The game started off awfully similar to Tuesday night’s game against Arkansas State; the , Tigers jumped out to a 12-0 lead on the Huskies, but the offense stalled the rest of the half.
NIU crept back, tied, and took the lead at one point, but a Namon Wright three and a Jakeenan Gant put-back dunk gave Mizzou a 27-26 lead going into the locker room.
In the second half the offense really started to pick up for both teams. The guards from Missouri did a great job of finding Russell Woods under the basket for three easy buckets, two of them created And-One opportunities.
Tramaine Isabell hustles for a loose ball. The Tigers energy created opportunities on both ends of the floor. (Photo by L.G. Patterson/Associated Press)
Despite the improved offense, NIU was still hanging around. After the Huskies pulled within one, the Tigers grabbed two offensive rebounds and Tramaine Isabell capitalized by draining a three with 8:53 left in the game.
That got the crowd back into it.
Cullen VanLeer collected a loose ball and found Terrence Phillips at the other end. Phillips used his body to draw contact on a layup, which he converted and got the foul.
Mizzou Arena got louder as Phillips fell to the floor pounding his chest.
NIU turned the ball over again. Gant stepped in front of a pass which he took all the way himself to the rim, and drew another foul.
His teammates jumped on him, yelling and celebrating the sophomore’s big play and Mizzou Arena exploded in elation.
That all happened in a span of less than a minute, and Missouri controlled the game with relative ease after that.
That was particularly huge for Gant as he had been really struggling to being the year. He finished with 11 points and six rebounds. If he plays with that intensity every time out, that will open things up for everyone on the team.
The Tigers got 41 of their 78 points from their frontcourt, and since NIU had to account for the guys inside, the perimeter players got off better shots.
They shot 53.8% from the field. Missouri will be a tough team for anyone when they are shooting like that.
Is NIU any good? Well they were undefeated, but it’s not like they had a gauntlet of a schedule to start the year 7-0, but I would say that they’re better than the Wofford team Missouri beat to start the year.
The biggest takeaway of the night however, was the atmosphere at Mizzou Arena. It was fun to be there. I can’t think of anytime last year where I enjoyed myself watching Missouri basketball.
This team plays with chemistry, they’re unselfish, and it looks like they’re having fun playing with one another. That will go a long way into how much they develop over the course of the year.
Missouri improves to 4-3, and they’re off until Wednesday when they take on 3-4 Omaha at Mizzou Arena.
