After sliding to an 8-24 finish a year ago, Missouri is enjoying a bounce-back season to this point.The Tigers (8-1) gained momentum by upsetting then-No. 1 Kansas 76-67 on Sunday and will try to build on that Saturday when Long Island (4-8) visits Columbia, Mo.Tamar Bates, who leads Missouri with a 14.1 scoring average, earned SEC Player of the Week honors after scoring 29 points against the Jayhawks. Mark Mitchell, who averages 12.8 points and 4.8 rebounds, added 17 points and three blocked shots.Although he is shooting just 25 percent from 3-point range this season, Mitchell hit the pivotal corner 3-pointer with 2:03 left as the Tigers held off a late Kansas charge.”That’s what confidence is,” Missouri coach Dennis Gates said. “He made a big-time play. He believed in himself. It’s the confidence that we talk about. … We want guys to play like that. They do it in practice, and they believe in themselves.”Missouri is still without guard Caleb Grill, who is averaging 13.6 points per game. He has missed the last two games with a neck injury that could sideline him for additional weeks.Anthony Robinson II emerged as a floor leader in Grill’s absence. After averaging just 3.9 points as a freshman, he is averaging 11.9 points, 4.1 assists and 4.4 rebounds this season.
Missouri riding major momentum into date with Long Island
By
/