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Runnin' Utes Head to SEC Country to Battle Mizzou

by Utah Athletics
Dec 15, 2021

SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah men's basketball team will finally close out its home-and-home deal with Missouri this Saturday, Dec. 18, when the two teams square off at 2:30 p.m. (MT) inside Mizzou Arena.
 
Tom Hart will have the call in the fourth meeting between the Runnin' Utes and Tigers while Jon Sundvold serves as the analyst on the SEC Network broadcast.
 
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
Missouri enters this weekend's game 5-5 overall under the direction of a familiar face in Cuonzo Martin, who spent three seasons at the helm in Berkeley leading the Cal Bears. The Tigers are 4-2 this season on their home court with losses to Kansas City (80-66) and Wichita State (61-55).
 
Kobe Brown paces the team in a handful of categories, averaging 13.8 points, 9.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists with team-highs in blocks (10) and steals (18) while shooting an impressive .543 clip. Amari Davis is second on the team averaging 10.6 points and 3.0 rebounds while Javon Pickett is nearly in double-figures posting 9.3 points per game to go with a 2.9 rebounding average and 1.6 assists average.
 
As a team, Mizzou has allowed opponents to shoot .376 from beyond the arc for 80 made 3-pointers – which would rank in the top-20 nationally in 3FGM. However, the Tigers have outrebounded opponents by an average margin of 5.6 boards per game. Through its six home games, Mizzou has outscored opponents on average by 11.2 points but have allowed opponents to shoot at a pretty high clip still (.396 FG% and .322 3FG%).
 
BY THE NUMBERS
Utah's 28 assists against Manhattan tied for the sixth most in a single-game this season among major conference teams. Meanwhile, the .583 shooting clip (35-60) for Utah against Manhattan is tied for 24th for highest shooting percentage this year among power conference teams.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Utah dominated the visiting Manhattan Jaspers last Saturday in all facets of the game to record the 96-62 victory. The Utes were back to their old selves, winning the battle of the glass 40-27 while outscoring the Jaspers 42-26 in the paint. In addition, Utah converted 11 of its offensive rebounds into 18 points.
 
Lahat Thioune led the Utes in scoring off the bench with a career-high 16 points and seven rebounds with four assists to go with an 8-of-8 night at the line. Branden Carlson had an efficient night scoring 15 points on 7-of-9 shooting with five rebounds and four assists. Riley Battin chipped in with 14 points on seven rebounds while Both Gach added a dozen points of his own with five rebounds and three assists.

 
Jaxon Brenchley posted a career-high in assists with four while walk-on Harrison Creer picked up his first-career field goal. All 12 available players for Utah saw action and all 12 registered at least one field goal and two points.
 
UP NEXT
Utah returns home to the friendly confines of the Jon M. Huntsman Center for a quick turnaround as it welcomes in Fresno State for a 5 p.m. (MT) tip-off on Tuesday, Dec. 21. Todd Harris will once again have the call in Salt Lake City while Ernie Kent serves as the analyst between the former WAC opponents on Pac-12 Networks.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
The Runnin' Utes will kick-off the full Pac-12 slate at the end of December as it faces Oregon State and Oregon. The Utes will first battle the Beavers of Oregon State, who are coming off a historic Elite 8 run, on Thursday, Dec. 30, at 7 p.m. (MT) before ringing in the New Year against Oregon on Saturday, Jan. 1, at 8:30 p.m. (MT). Both games against the Beavers and Ducks will broadcast on Pac-12 Networks.
 
For the latest news and information on the Runnin' Utes men's basketball program, fans can stay connected online at www.UtahUtes.com and on social media by following @UtahMBB on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
 
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