Game Report: Mizzou 67, Emporia State 62
Cuonzo Martin has had a consistent message for his teams over his decade as a head coach:
"Don’t hang your hat on whether or not your shot is falling. Don’t allow that to be your gauge."
If Missouri used it as a gauge on Monday night against Division II Emporia State, the Tigers would come away severely disappointed. The Tigers made just two of 20 three-pointers and 19-of-34 free throws (56%). They escaped with a 67-62 win that wasn't secured until Jontay Porter blocked a potential tying shot and Kassius Robertson made two free throws with 24 seconds left.
"You don't get these nights back," Martin said. "We had some opportunities to make some threes, didn't shoot the ball well from the free throw line, we had 18 turnovers. I think the only thing that saved us, we were playing at home."
"We definitely learned our lesson tonight for sure. Me being my third year and losing to some teams like that, I know what it's like," Kevin Puryear said. "Now it's just time for us to buckle down and come together.
"We're going to get out of it."
While nothing outside was going down, the Tigers did get good things from their interior players. Jeremiah Tilmon (13 points, 5 rebounds), Reed Nikko (8, 4) and Jontay Porter (11, 11) combined to go 13-for-19 from the floor and score 34 points along with 20 rebounds and seven blocked shots.
"I think we did a pretty good job overall of finishing around the rim today," said Puryear, who added 13 points and eight boards of his own. "If we didn't have the interior, we maybe lose that game by eight or ten points. When our shots aren't falling, it's good to have guys on the inside who can make plays."
Nikko came to Missouri needing hip surgery and played very sparingly last season. But he has proved to be a valuable part of the rotation as Missouri's third true big man so far.
"Probably the best I've felt since junior year of high school," Nikko said. "I feel great. Huge credit to our trainers and our medical staff for getting me there."
"Very impressive," Martin said. "He's one of those guys that carries out his assignment to a T, execute everything we try and do. He's big, he's physical. I think the biggest thing with Reed is just understanding how talented he is and really believing in himself because I think he's better than what he gives himself credit for."
Missouri, of course, will need more out of everyone going forward. The Tigers play only Division One teams the rest of the way.
GAME AT A GLANCE
TURNING POINT: Trailing 39-32, Missouri went on a 13-4 run started by a Cullen VanLeer three and featuring four points each from Porter and Nikko. The Tigers went up 46-43 and would lead for the rest of the game.
IT WAS OVER WHEN: Porter blocked a layup that would have tied the game (his third of the night) and Robertson made two free throws to give the Tigers a four-point lead with 24 seconds to go.
CAUSE FOR OPTIMISM: They won. Other than that, not much. This is not a win that anyone will feel good about going to Orlando. Tomorrow's practice will likely be a tough one.
"I don't know if I'd say we were frustrated," Nikko said. "Obviously we had some difficulties early on. Came out a little bit flat. I think frustrated is probably not the best word. We just had to come out in the second half with more energy."
CAUSE FOR CONCERN: Everything. This was a Division II team and it had a seven-point second half lead and a chance to tie the game with 30 seconds to go. That shouldn't happen. In addition, there is no more clarity to what's going on with Michael Porter Jr., who flew (to Dallas, according to Twitter, but not confirmed by Mizzou) to see a specialist (it is unknown in what he specializes).
"I'm not sure right now," Martin said. "We'll see if he's going to Orlando with us."
STOCK UP: Blake Harris. This was the first game anyone other than Kassius Robertson started at point guard. That was Jordan Geist, but Harris played a season-high 22 minutes. He had four assists against just one turnover and had a team best +16 rating while he was on the floor.
"I thought he played well. I think Blake can be a really good on-ball defender," Martin said. "He pushes the ball, puts pressure on the defense. He did a lot of positive things."
STOCK DOWN: Shooting. Ten percent isn't gonna get it done. Robertson, theoretically freed up by playing off the ball, missed all nine of his shots and all six threes. Jordan Barnett was tough to locate most of the night, going 0-for-4 from three-point range. Cullen VanLeer was the only Tiger to score from beyond the arc, but even he went just 2-for-6.
UP NEXT: Mizzou will play Thursday, Friday and Sunday in the Advocare Invitational in Orlando, Fl. The Tigers open with Long Beach State at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday. They'll get either St. John's or Oregon State on Friday and play their final game in the tournament on Sunday.