MU report: Tigers junior Russell Woods nearly automatic from the field

Junior Russell Woods’ shooting percentage this season jumped to 81.0 percent after he went three of three from the field in an 85-78 win against Nebraska-Omaha on Wednesday at Mizzou Arena.

Woods — a transfer from John A. Logan, a two-year college in Illinois — is now 17 of 21 shooting overall from the field.

“He doesn’t try to do something he can’t do,” Missouri coach Kim Anderson said. “That’s the great thing about Russ. He knows where he can score from and those are the shots he takes. You very rarely see him get very far from the basket unless he’s coming out to set a screen. That’s smart.”

He finished with six points and two rebounds in 15 minutes, providing another workmanlike effort off the bench for the Tigers.

“He’s really learning to play within himself, and we need that from everybody,” Anderson said.

Clark exits with injury

Missouri junior guard Wes Clark left the game with 3:11 remaining after a collision with a table adjacent to the home-side baseline.

Anderson said he needed a few staples to close a gash in his head.

“He’s OK,” Anderson said.

It made for a dicey final few minutes after Terrence Phillips, who is the Tigers’ other primary ball-handler along with Clark, fouled out with 2:36 left.

Sophomores Tramaine Isabell and Namon Wright and freshman Cullen VanLeer helped Missouri seal the win.

By the numbers

▪ 6: Personal fouls by Omaha sophomore forward Tre’Shawn Thurman, who fouled out when he bulled over Ryan Rosburg with 5:30 remaining. He was then whistled for a technical foul, giving him the elusive feat since technical fouls also count as personal fouls.

▪ 8: Consecutive games Missouri freshman Cullen VanLeer has connected on at least one three-pointer to start his career.

▪ 9:05: Elapsed time before Missouri’s first turnover in the second half after committing 13 first-half turnovers. The Tigers committed five turnovers in the second half.

This story was originally published December 9, 2015 at 10:50 PM with the headline "MU report: Tigers junior Russell Woods nearly automatic from the field."