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COLUMBIA, Mo. — In a unique home-home matchup, the University of Missouri men’s basketball team will take on Mississippi State twice in the next three days. The Tigers’ are set to play in Starkville Friday at 6 p.m., followed by a home matchup Sunday at 7 p.m.
Friday’s matchup will be broadcast on SECN+ with Bart Gregory and Charlie Winfield on the call. Dave Neal and Jon Sundvold have Sunday’s game on SEC Network. Mike Kelly and Chris Gervino will have both contests on the Tiger Radio Network.
Sunday’s match is a rescheduled game from Jan. 5, which was postponed due to health and safety protocols. All tickets and parking passes from the originally scheduled date will be honored.
MIZZOU HEADLINES
- Missouri is shooting 74.6 percent from the free throw line in SEC play, a mark that ranks second-best in the league. The Tigers’ also hold a field goal percentage of 45.1, which sits at fourth for teams in conference action.
- Javon Pickett has led the Tigers with consistent play through the SEC schedule. He is shooting a team-best 50.5 percent from the floor and averaging 12.2 points per game.
- The senior has recorded double-digits in nine-straight conference games.
- Six of Mizzou’s last seven SEC games have been decided by an average of five points, including two one-point defeats.
- Mizzou is 10-2 this season when outrebounding its opponents, doing so in every win this season.
- On Tuesday, freshman Trevon Brazile recorded his 34th block of the season. Brazile surpassed the freshman mark by Jeremiah Tilmon of 33, and moved into fourth on the Mizzou Freshman Single-Season block list. He is currently tied with Doug Smith (1987-88) and 21 blocks behind Jontay Porter’s mark from 2017-18.
- DaJuan Gordon has settled in as a solid scorer for the Tigers’, shooting at 50 percent or high in four of his last six games. Gordon leads Mizzou with a 48.6 percent mark from three in conference play, and has made three in back-to-back games.
- Missouri has not played a conference game on a Friday since Feb. 21, 1964 at Oklahoma.
THE SERIES
- Mississippi State owns the 9-5 lead in the all-time series, including an 8-3 advantage since Missouri joined the SEC.
- The last six meetings have all taken place in Starkville, with Missouri going 1-5 in that stretch. The Tigers’ last won in the Hump in 2018 and are 2-7 all-time on the road against the Dogs.
- In last years lone matchup between the two teams, Javon Pickett contributed seven points while Kobe Brown was held to five.
SCOUTING MISSISSIPPI STATE
- Mississippi State boasts an impressive 12-2 home record, but is 0-7 on the road this season. The Bulldogs have only lost to Minnesota and Arkansas at home.
- Iverson Molinar leads Mississippi State with 18.6 points per game and is shooting 47.8 percent on the season. The junior ranks third in the SEC in scoring and leads the conference in free throw percentage (89.4).
- Molinar is the only SEC player to score in double-figures in every game this season, and has a streak of 24-straight games.
- As a team Mississippi State ranks 26th nationally in rebounding margin, lead by Garrison Brooks who is averaging 6.8 rebounds per game.
- The Bulldogs also have the second-best field goal percentage in the SEC, shooting at 46.4 percent.
- Ben Howland is in his seventh year leading Mississippi State with a tournament appearance in 2018-19.
UP NEXT
After hosting Mississippi State on Sunday, Missouri will stay in Mizzou Arena as they welcome #16 Tennessee on Tuesday, Feb. 22. The game is slated for a 6 p.m. tip on SEC Network.
FOLLOW THE TIGERS
For all the latest information on Mizzou Men’s Basketball, please visit MUTigers.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Tigers on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @MizzouHoops. Fans should call 1-800-CAT-PAWS for tickets or buy online today!
