Missouri showcased a formidable defensive performance on Sunday at Mizzou Arena. They forced 18 turnovers and blocked six shots in their 82-72 victory over Wichita State (WSU). With this win, the Tigers improved to a 7-2 record for the season, riding high on a four-game winning streak. Mizzou will be gearing up for their Border War rivalry showdown against the No. 5 Kansas Jayhawks next Saturday.
Forcing Turnovers
WSU faced a daunting defensive challenge throughout the game, struggling to move the ball against Missouri’s relentless pressure. MU capitalized on this, forcing 10 turnovers in the first half and adding eight more in the second. Mizzou finished the game with an impressive tally of 13 steals.
From the opening minutes, Missouri disrupted the Shockers’ offensive flow, as the Shockers turned the ball over four times in the first three minutes. Tamar Bates and Sean East II set the tone with early steals. Bates stole the ball from Wichita State forward Kenny Pohto, while Sean East II stole a ball that led to a Nick Honor three-pointer on the other end. The initiation of a fast-paced game hurt WSU, who proceeded to turn the ball over on back-to-back possessions due to passing errors.
Defensive intensity remained a constant for the Tigers. East stole the ball from Harlond Beverly, which led to a fast-break layup from Anthony Robinson II to give Mizzou a 12-7 lead with 13:08 remaining in the first half. With nine minutes to go in the half, forward Noah Carter took the ball from Beverly, which led to a trip to the free-throw line for Caleb Grill after a fast break. Robinson came up with another fast-break layup towards the end of the half. He stole the ball from Wichita State guard Colby Rodgers to extend Missouri’s lead to 41-32 with 1:12 left in the half.
Photo Cred: St. Louis Post-Dispatch
The second half saw Missouri’s defensive prowess continue, with Honor and Bates recording steals early on. Honor stole the ball from Beverly 54 seconds into the half, while Bates intercepted a pass and went all the way for a dunk to give the Tigers a 45-34 lead.
Head coach Dennis Gates commended Bates for his efficiency on the defensive end, highlighting the significance of his fast-break. The junior guard concluded the contest with three steals, demonstrating his impact on both ends of the court.
“He (Bates) was very efficient for us defensively,” Gates said. “His dunk was big for us as he was able to unite the crowd and give us more momentum.”
Photo Cred: FOX 2
Gates’ defensive strategy paid off further as his team forced multiple turnovers, including two by Rodgers in 30 seconds. The guard was called for an offensive foul with 14:13 remaining in the game. 29 seconds later, Robinson stole the ball from Rodgers.
The defensive efforts were a collective endeavor, with players like Carter and East also contributing three steals each. Anthony Robinson II and Caleb Grill added crucial steals as well, solidifying Missouri’s dominance on the defensive front.
Denying Baskets
The defensive showcase extended to shot-blocking, with Gates’ squad amassing six blocks in the game. Sophomore Aidan Shaw led the charge with three himself, including a pivotal chasedown block on Harlond Beverly’s fast-break layup. Jordan Butler (two blocks) and Connor Vanover (one block) also made significant contributions, denying key shots from Wichita State throughout the game.
Shaw’s three blocks all came in the second half, which proved pivotal as it displayed his defensive versatility. Shaw also blocked two of Rodgers’ jump shots on the same possession shortly after his block on Beverly. Butler’s well-timed blocks (both on Beverly) in each half showcased the freshman’s defensive acumen.
Photo Cred: Yahoo Sports
One was a blocked layup attempt after the Wichita State guard grabbed the offensive rebound. The other was a denied three-pointer when the Tigers were up 59-53 with a little under nine minutes remaining in the game. Center Connor Vanover rounded out the shot-blocking display with a rejection of Beverly’s jumper in the final 10 minutes.
Looking Ahead
In summarizing the defensive performance, Gates praised his team’s collective effort and highlighted the impact of timely steals and blocks. The victory over Wichita State not only extends Missouri’s winning streak but also solidifies their defensive prowess heading into the highly anticipated rivalry against Kansas coming up next.
