Mizzou @ Iowa State preview

Tigers look to post big win in Ames
by "Mizzou" Matt

Kim English (24)

The Missouri Tigers go on the road to Ames, Iowa for the first of their final five games.  In the first meeting between the Tigers and Cyclones, Missouri was the victors by a 33-point margin, 87-54.  The Tigers are are 20-6 on the season, 6-5 in conference.  The Cyclones had a good start, but once conference play started, they went on a downhill skid, sitting on a 14-11, 1-9 campaign going into tomorrow's game against Texas A&M.

The Cyclones are led offensively by Diante Garrett, who averages nearly 18 points per game.  All five of their starters average double digits, with three players averaging over 30 minutes per game.

Marcus Denmon is averaging 16.2 ppg

Missouri is led by Marcus Denmon, with over 16 points per game.  Ratliffe (11.8), Bowers (10.9), Dixon (10.4) and English (10.4) round out the top scorers, but the Tiger bench is averaging quite a bit of playing time, with big Steve Moore averaging 12 minutes per game off the seats (lowest of the team aside from Underwood and Sutton).

Both teams are relatively even on free throws, field goals and three pointers.
MIZ- .468 FG%, .376 3PT%, .729 FT%
ISU- .437 FG%, .375 3PT%, .737 FT%
But the Tigers do lead in steals 243-174.  ISU has 374 turnovers compared to Missouri's 316.

Kim English averages 10.4 per game.

Mizzou needs the win to get their first conference road win of the season, before going into the hostile territory of Manhattan, KS and Lincoln, NE.  Kansas State, who the Tigers play on 2/26, defeated the number-1 ranked Kansas Jayhawks 84-68 on Valentines Day.  Remaining home games for the Tigers are against Baylor on 2/23 and Kansas on 3/5 to close the season.