Cougars Battle Mizzou Tough: In the heart of Missouri, Damarco Minor showcased his double-double prowess, tallying 14 points and 10 rebounds for SIUE. Despite his efforts, the men’s basketball team faced a tough 68-50 defeat against Mizzou on a Monday night clash.
Defense took center stage as the Cougars restricted Missouri to 68 points with a 43% shooting accuracy. While their defensive play was commendable, SIUE struggled to find offensive consistency.
Trailing by seven at halftime (38-31), the Cougars grappled with establishing an offensive rhythm in the second half. SIUE’s overall field goal percentage stood at 29%, making only three of 24 attempts in the latter half. The team’s first 20 shots in the period failed to find the mark.
SIUE Head Coach Brian Barone acknowledged the lapse, stating, “We didn’t move the ball like we did in the first half. We had good looks that went in and out. We didn’t make the plays for each other as needed.”
Brian Taylor II notched his first double-digit scoring game with 10 points, shooting a perfect 3-3 at the free-throw line. Lamar Wright contributed eight points, while Ray’Sean Taylor added seven.
Missouri’s Sean East II led the charge with 20 points, accompanied by Noah Carter’s double-double featuring 15 points and 10 rebounds, including a 4-9 performance from beyond the arc.
Missouri showcased sharpshooting skills, draining 11 of 29 attempts from long range. The Tigers outrebounded the Cougars 36-33 in a game dominated by defensive prowess.
Looking ahead, SIUE sets its sights on the Jaguars Classic in Mobile, Alabama. The upcoming challenges include matchups against Denver on Thursday, Nicholls on Friday, and a faceoff against host South Alabama on Sunday afternoon, with Thursday’s game kicking off at 5 p.m.
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Coach Barone emphasized the team’s aspirations, stating, “When you come into a game like this, it’s not about being close or doing some good things. We want to win this game. Those are the expectations that we place on ourselves. We want to win, and we didn’t, so now we do what we need to do to win the next one.”
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Our Reader’s Queries
Who did Mizzou lose to as a 2 seed?
The second-seeded team suffered a defeat against the No. 15 seed Norfolk State.
How many times has Mizzou been to the Elite 8?
Mizzou has secured 22 wins in the national championship, reaching the Elite Eight five times throughout its history (1944, 1976, 1994, 2002, and 2009).