TV Schedule: Friday, November 22, 7:30 pm ET (ESPN+/SECN+)
Location: Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Missouri
Missouri (3-1) and Pacific (3-3) are moving in opposite directions after the first couple weeks of the season. Mizzou is riding a three-game win streak into the matchup, while Pacific has dropped its last three games.
In its last game, Missouri beat MVSU 111-39, tying the school record for largest win. The 111 points by Missouri was the program's best scoring night since the 2010-11 season when the Tigers put up 116 points in a win over Central Arkansas. Seven Mizzou players scored more than 10 points in the 72-point win over MVSU. Marques Warrick led all scorers with 16 points on four made threes.
Pacific made a season-high 12 threes in its last game against Arkansas, but the Razorbacks pulled away late and Pacific lost the game 91-72. Elijah Fisher led Pacific with 23 points in the loss.
This season Pacific’s offense has been led by Elijah Fisher (17.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg) and Elias Ralph (17.7 ppg, 7.8 rpg). Most of the offense runs through these two players. Fisher and Ralph account for nearly 38 percent of the team's shots and 46 percent of Pacific’s scoring average.
Pacific is averaging just under 77 points per game this season. The Tigers averaged nearly 89 over the first three games, but during its three-game losing streak, Pacific is only scoring 65 points per game. Most of the team's scoring comes from inside the three-point arc where Pacific is making 55.4 percent of its shots, but as the Tigers showed against Arkansas, it can score from three as well.
Defensively Pacific has found success defending the three this year, limiting opponents to only 21.7 percent from deep. Arkansas made 42 percent from three, but before that, no team made better than 29 percent. Pacific also rebounds well. On the season the Tigers are averaging just under 41 rebounds per game.
Missouri is led in scoring by Tamar Bates and Caleb Grill, who are both averaging 13.5 points per game. Mark Mitchell is adding 12.5 points per game and Anthony Robinson rounds out the Tigers’ double-digit scorers with 10.5 per game.
After struggling from three to start the season, the Tigers are averaging 12.5 made threes per game over the past two games. One reason why Missouri’s three-point shooting has turned around has been the play of Caleb Grill. Grill made eight threes in the win over Eastern Washington last week, unlocking the deep ball for the rest of the team.
Defensively Missouri has been solid defending the interior, holding opponents 41.7 percent from the floor. One area where Missouri has been vulnerable this season is from three. The Tigers are allowing opponents to make nearly 38 percent from deep.
Pacific is trying to break free of its losing streak and will play its second SEC opponent on the road this week. Missouri had a size and talent advantage, but Mizzou's depth might break the game wide open. Pacific doesn’t have a deep bench, with only seven players seeing more than 10 minutes per game whereas Missouri has 12. Most of Pacific’s scoring comes from two players and Missouri has been led in scoring by a different player in each game this season.
I think Missouri wins this one with relative ease, extending its win streak to four games, matching the longest win streak from a season ago.