Men’s Basketball Hosts No. 13/14 Auburn on Senior Night

University of Missouri men’s basketball hosts Auburn in the final home game of the 2023-24 season. The Tigers’ Senior Day contest is slated for Tuesday night with an 8 p.m. tipoff on SEC Network.

PROMOTIONS
• The Tigers will celebrate Senior Day following Tuesday’s game.
• The first 1,000 fans will also receive a free Mizzou hoodie giveaway.

SENIOR CEREMONY
• The Tigers are set to celebrate nine players and four managers following Tuesday’s game in a Senior Day ceremony.
• Jesus Carralero Martin, Noah Carter, Sean East II, Caleb Grill, Nick Honor, Curt Lewis, Mabor Majak, John Tonje and Connor Vanover will all be recognized for their contributions to Mizzou.
• The nine players have combined to appear in 1,043 games with 8,967 points, 3,191 rebounds, 1,715 assists, 802 steals and 413 blocks.
• Mizzou will also honor managers Zeke Buyaba, Jason Calderon, Matt Lind and Josh Reynolds.

ABOUT MISSOURI
• Missouri is 8-21 during the 2023-24 season with a 0-16 record in SEC action.
• On Saturday, MU cut a 21-point deficit down to two but Ole Miss escaped with an 84-78 win.
• Sean East II led the Tigers Saturday with 27 points – his fifth-straight game of 20-plus points.
• Overall, East leads Mizzou with 17.5 points and 4.1 assists per game in 2023-24.
• Four Tigers are scoring in double figures as Tamar Bates (13.6), Nick Honor (11.1) and Noah Carter (10.9) follow East’s lead.
• The Tigers are averaging 72.3 points and allowing 75.5 points per game.

ABOUT AUBURN
• Auburn enters the week ranked No. 13 in the AP poll, while placing No. 14 in the coaches poll.
• The Tigers own a 22-7 record with an 11-5 mark in SEC play.
• Johni Broome leads Auburn with 16.3 points, 8.6 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game.
• Jaylin Williams (12.8) and Chad Baker-Mazara (10.2) also score in double figures.
• Tre Donaldson adds a team-best 3.3 assists.
• The Tigers averaged 82.6 points, while allowing 68.0 on the defensive end.

SERIES HISTORY
• Auburn holds a 9-6 advantage over Mizzou in 15 all-time meetings with all games coming since 2013 when Mizzou joined the SEC.
• Auburn has claimed the last three games in the series, including a 89-56 home win last year.
• MU owns a 4-3 record at home versus Auburn but AU has won three of the last four in Columbia.
• Mizzou’s last win in the series was an 85-73 victory over No. 11 during the 2019-20 campaign. 

EAST CATCHES FIRE
• Since returning from an injury, Sean East II has been at his best over the last five games.
• East has averaged 25.8 points and 4.2 assists since missing two contests with a knee injury – scoring at least 20 points in all five games.
• The guard is shooting 62.1 percent from the field and 46.7 percent from 3-point range, while averaging 8.0 made free throws during the run.
• Overall, East is the first Tiger to record at least 20 points in five-straight games since Jabari Brown had a six-game run in 2013-14.

TOP NUMBERS
• Overall, Sean East II is enjoying one of the best seasons in years by a Tiger.
• East enters the week ranked fifth in the SEC in scoring (17.5) and seventh in assists (4.1).
• East’s 17.5 points per game are the most by a Tiger since Jabari Brown (19.9) in 2013-14.
• With at least three games remaining, East needs 27 points and 14 assists to become the first Tiger in 30 years (and just third ever) with 500 points and 125 assists in a single season (Melvin Booker in 1993-94 and Anthony Peeler in 1989-90).

MOST IMPROVED AWARD
• The strong season for Sean East II has highlighted his development as a Tiger.
• Sean East II has increased his scoring by 10.2, the most in the SEC and sixth most nationally among Power 6 players.
• East’s 10.2-point increase is the most by a Tiger since Nathan Buntin also increased his average by 10.2 from 1988-89 (4.6) to 1989-90 (14.8).

DOUBLE-DIGIT OPTIONS
• Missouri has four players it can count on to consistently put up points this season.
• Four Tigers are currently scoring in double figures with Sean East II leading the way with 17.5 and followed by Tamar Bates (13.6), Nick Honor (11.1) and Noah Carter (10.9).
• Mizzou has not finished a season with four players averaging in double figures since five did so during the 2012-13 campaign.

ANOTHER OPTION IN SHAW?
• Aidan Shaw is hoping to become that fifth option after one of his best games as a Tiger.
• Shaw tallied 13 points – the second-most in his career – while matching his personal high with nine boards Saturday versus Ole Miss.