The Missouri Tigers flexed their depth while routing Mississippi Valley State, but they will face a tougher challenge when they host the Pacific Tigers on Friday in Columbia, Mo.
Missouri (3-1) rolled past the Delta Devils 111-39 on Nov. 14. Missouri coach Dennis Gates used 14 players, with 11 playing double-figure minutes and seven scoring in double figures.
“Seeing everybody get to eat like that is amazing,” Missouri forward Jacob Crews said. “You cheer them on and everybody wants what’s best for everyone here. There’s no jealousy or anything like that, everybody is just happy for everyone. Having a program like that, it’s important because I’ve been in systems where that could break a team, and I’ve seen and been a part of the team that’s been broken and had a lot of potential.
“And one thing about potential, you know, you’ve got to work it. And I think that’s what we’re doing here. And that was the result tonight.”
Guard Marques Warrick led Missouri with 16 points and Caleb Grill and Tamar Bates each scored 15. Grill and Bates lead the team with 13.5 scoring averages this season while Mark Mitchell is averaging 12.5 points and a team-best 5.3 rebounds.
Tony Perkins could return for Missouri after sitting out the latest game to rest a leg injury.
Pacific (3-3) scheduled back-to-back road games against SEC foes as part of its preparation for league play.
“To go in without being thrown in the fire a few times would have been a mistake,” first-year Pacific coach Dave Smart said, “so this is a big opportunity for us. To get on the road and do that is always a positive, no matter what happens, in the situation that we’re in.”
Pacific hung tough at No. 20 Arkansas on Monday, staying within 59-57 with 12:57 left before the Razorbacks pulled away to a 91-72 victory.
Pacific’s Elijah Fisher scored 23 points on 8-for-10 shooting while playing all 40 minutes at Arkansas. He is averaging 17.7 points and 4.3 rebounds this season.
Elias Ralph had 12 points and 10 rebounds against the Razorbacks after scoring 23 points and grabbing 11 rebounds in a 60-57 loss to Northern Arizona. He averages 17.7 points and 7.8 rebounds.
