Missouri Tigers made plays down stretch to collect first road victory of the season
Missouri is a team of newcomers that is eight games into their time together. But they are experienced, and that proved valuable in Tuesday’s 88-84 overtime victory at Wichita State.
Mizzou used six players in overtime, and all have multiple years of Division I experience. This was the Tigers’ first road game and biggest challenge this season. But everyone had been through close-game circumstances.
“We’ve got a bunch of older guys on his team, so everybody’s kind of been in this situation,” point guard Sean East told PowerMizzou.com after the game. “And just us combining all our personalities and all our experience, we just stayed connected, you know, never got down on ourselves. And Coach Gates always says, ‘Don’t blink.’ We just didn’t blink and just kept fighting.”
The game was played to Missouri’s pace in the first half, as the Tigers opened a 43-36 lead. But Wichita State used a 16-0 run in the second half to gain the lead. The Shockers opened a 66-56 margin with 5:15 remaining and appeared in good shape.
But in three minutes and with the help of defensive pressure, Missouri took a 72-21 lead on Noah Carter’s three-point play. D’Moi Hodge made one of two free throws with 10 seconds remaining to make it 75-75.
Missouri got a final opportunity and Tre Gomillion got a good look but missed the jumper with two seconds to play.
Missouri never trailed in the extra period. East and Nick Honor combined to make six straight free throws in the final 32 seconds.
Mizzou, which received votes in this week’s AP top 25 poll, improved to 8-0.
Carter led the Tigers with 20 points. Missouri didn’t record 20 assists in a game for the first time this season, finishing with 14, and shot a season-low 21.2 percent on three-pointers. But Mizzou came up with the big plays when it mattered most.
“I thought our guys, our experience as we searched for an identity on the road, was on display,” Tigers coach Dennis Gates said.
*Gates said that Isiaih Mosley didn’t play for personal reasons.
*Missouri’s next game is Sunday. The Tigers play host to Southeast Missouri State. Tip is 3 p.m. After that, Kansas will make its first appearance at Mizzou Arena for the first time since 2012. The Dec. 10 contest will tip at 4:15 p.m.