Mizzou’s Tray Jackson scores career high vs. Vols, provides boost in Tilmon’s absence
With the Missouri Tigers missing forward Jeremiah Tilmon against Tennessee on Tuesday, they were bound to rely on their other big men.
Forwards Reed Nikko and Mitchell Smith were the starters, but Mizzou coach Cuonzo Martin was set to dip deeper into his bench. That’s when he landed on freshman forward Tray Jackson, who didn’t play in the Tigers’ loss to Kentucky last Saturday.
Jackson provided a boost off the bench Tuesday, scoring a career-high 11 points along with three rebounds in nine minutes. With the game still close, Jackson had a stretch where he scored seven of Mizzou’s nine points as they kept pace with the Volunteers.
“It felt great to be out there competing,” Jackson said. “I feel like I’ve been in the gym a lot. It felt good to be out there.”
Despite leading Mizzou in scoring in the 69-59 loss to Tennessee, Jackson played just nine minutes. Part of that was because of the rotation, Jackson scoring a bulk of his points midway through the second half. Another reason was because Jackson was “winded,” Martin said.
Compared to practices, Jackson said games are “high intensity,” which made him tired quicker.
It’s been an up-and-down freshman season for Jackson. Before Tuesday’s game, he played in 10 of 13 games, averaging 2.0 points and 2.0 rebounds. The Detroit native logged 12 minutes vs. Butler, but also just recorded one minute against Illinois.
“Tray played great,” Martin said of Jackson. “Not playing a lot. ... But I thought he played great. He has a real talent to score the ball.”
For the first time this season, alongside Jackson on the court were fellow freshmen Mario McKinney Jr. and Kobe Brown. While Brown earns consistent playing time and a spot in the starting rotation, McKinney’s playing time has been more sparse than Jackson’s.
Jackson said he didn’t notice the trio were out there together as Martin stuck with a three-freshman lineup in the first half.
“I’ve just been playing like that all year in practice,” Jackson said. “I just try to play my game and be comfortable whenever I can.”
With Tilmon out for the foreseeable future, Jackson’s role should grow. He said he doesn’t worry much about actually playing, but that he’ll continue to work behind the scenes in practice.
Becaue Jackson can guard multiple positions, his defensive versatility should be a plus as Mizzou continues SEC play. The Tigers play host to Florida at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Mizzou Arena.
“He’s just like me, he can switch guarding (positions),” Smith said of Jackson. “Once he just gets that confidence in his game to see what he can do, Tray’s going to be great. Tray’s going to keep pushing because coach is going to keep giving him minutes.”