The Missouri Tigers enter Friday night's game against the Nicholls State Colonels looking to stay undefeated at home. The team has won its first two games at home and will host the Colonels at Mizzou Arena in Columbia.
Even though they are undefeated, the Tigers have been sluggish starting games this season, including in the opener when the team trailed in the first half to Southern Illinois-Edwardsville before pulling out an 83-69 win.
The team also had trouble extending their lead against Alcorn State, who kept the game fairly close at the beginning before the Tigers ran away with a 91-54 victory on Tuesday.
"It was a sense of us being lethargic," senior forward Laurence Bowers said to the Associated Press. "Coach got under us, and we came out in the second half playing with a fire under us. And we ended up playing great. That halftime speech was a spark."
Bowers, who missed last season with a knee injury, has been one of the most impressive players for the Tigers, averaging 17 points and five rebounds per game. He had his best game in the opener, scoring 20 points and grabbing seven rebounds.
"Next game, I said in the huddle, we need to put two halves together and I think that's what we're going to do. We're going to come out with a better focus," said Bowers.
Missouri is ranked 14th in the country and have been strong rebounding the ball this season, ranking fourth in the nation with 53 per game. The team has also been high-powered on offense, averaging 87 points in its first two games.
The team has played well despite the absence of reserve Michael Dixon, who is suspended indefinitely after he violated unspecified team rules. The team is also playing without transfer Jabari Brown, who will become eligible to play in December.
"This team is a work in progress," coach Frank Haith said. "We're not going to be where we're going to be in January. We're not going to be where we're going to be in February."
Last season the Tigers won 30 games and Haith took home the AP Coach of the Year award in his first season with the team. Missouri lost in the first round of the NCAA tournament against the No. 15 seed Norfolk State 86-84.
The Colonels enter Friday's game looking for their first win after dropping the season opener at Vanderbilt on Saturday. The team had a lead late in the first half, but was unable to stop the rally by the Commodores, eventually losing 80-65.
The team won an exhibition game Tuesday against 73-53 against Mobile, but that win does not count in the standings. The Colonels have tough odds against the Tigers, having gone only "3-17 on the road against non-conference foes since 2009-10," according to the Associated Press.
Senior guard Fred Hunter has been stellar for the Colonels, scoring 21 points and grabbing 10 rebounds against Vanderbilt. Last year he missed the entire season while recovering from knee surgery.
Sam McBeath, the sophomore out of Australia, has also been impressive for Nicholls State, leading the team in assists, steals and blocks.
Missouri has played Nicholls State only once before, winning 66-57 back in December of 1998. According to the Associated Press, Missouri is "seeking its 68th consecutive home win over a non-conference opponent."
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