Rally For Rhyan takes center stage for fifth year as Mizzou hosts Arkansas
When Brad Loos and the Loos family started Rally For Rhyan five years ago, they came up with a modest goal of $10,000. The event, named after their daughter, Rhyan, was created to raise funds for pediatric cancer.
“That was our goal and we thought that would be great,” Loos said. “To have raised over half a million, never in our wildest dreams.”
The event started when Rhyan, then 5 years old, was diagnosed with leukemia. At the time, her dad was a Mizzou assistant basketball coach under Kim Anderson. Loos now for the Tiger Scholarship Fund as assistant athletic director of major gifts.
While Rhyan has been cancer-free and in remission for 38 months, the efforts to fight pediatric cancer are still very much alive. When the Missouri Tigers host the Arkansas Razorbacks at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, it’ll be the fifth annual Rally For Rhyan game.
“She’s a miracle to say the least,” Loos said of Rhyan. “I’m biased because she’s my daughter. I couldn’t be prouder of her. She’s overcome a ton of adversity. Now she’s a regular nine-year-old girl, which I think is pretty cool. She gets to live that life.”
For Mizzou coach Cuonzo Martin, the event is personal too. In 1997, Martin was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, an aggressive form of cancer. He’s been in remission since April 20, 1998.
The Tigers have yet to lose during a Rally For Rhyan game, going 4-0. Mizzou defeated Vanderbilt in last year’s game.
“She’s done a tremendous job,” Martin said of Rhyan. “I think she’s 38 months clean. For her, continuing to stay clean, but the fight for her friends, young kids all across the world, I think that’s very important. … This is something that affects everybody.”
While Loos said it’s the “elephant in the room” with the Tigers being undefeated in Rally For Rhyan games, they have a formidable foe in Arkansas.
The Razorbacks feature guard Mason Jones, who leads the SEC in scoring at 20.7 points per game in conference games only. In his last three games, he’s averaged 34.7 points as he attempts to stake a claim as SEC Player of the Year.
“I think he’s the best scorer in our league,” Martin said of Jones. “I’m not saying that because he’s leading the league in scoring. I think he has the mentality to score the ball every time down, which is a great attribute to have.”
Arkansas is one of the teams in the middle of the pack in the SEC with a 4-5 record. But the Razorbacks did have an impressive nonconference schedule, though it wasn’t one of the stronger schedules.
The Tigers look to improve their undefeated streak in the Rally For Rhyan game on Saturday. For Mizzou forward Reed Nikko — who was also recruited by Loos — it’s personal as he’s been there for all the games.
“She is a 9-year-old going on 19,” Loos said. “She’s just your typical little girl right now. She loves the dance classes. She loves going to school, having sleepovers. All those little things we took for granted prior to this. We definitely don’t take it for granted now.”
Tilmon, Mark Smith update
While forward Jeremiah Tilmon returned in Mizzou’s loss to Texas A&M, the Tigers are still missing guard Mark Smith. Martin said Smith has practiced but will be a game time decision to play against the Razorbacks.
For Tilmon, he’ll likely be on a minutes restriction again. He was set to play only 10 minutes against the Aggies, but went a little over at 12 minutes because of Nikko fouling out. Martin said Tilmon should play more than 10 minutes against the Razorbacks.
“I ain’t gonna say a ton of rust, but a little rusty,” Tilmon said. “My focus point was just demand attention, not do too much. Know what I can do. Don’t get out of character.”
This story was originally published February 7, 2020 at 2:49 PM.