After a week off, the Mizzou Tigers will be back in action this afternoon at the Mizzou Arena for a Big 12 Conference game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers. The Tigers will be trying to push their home winning streak, tied for third longest in the nation, to 31.
The Tigers come into this game after a rough game last Saturday in Norman against the Oklahoma Sooners. Mizzou would have a 10 point lead in the first half, only to see the Sooners go on a 17-5 run in the second half to pull away for a 66-61 win. The loss also put a stop to the Tigers nine game winning streak.
Mizzou is being led in scoring by underclassmen Kim English, Marcus Denmon and Laurence Bowers. English is averaging more than 15 points per game, Denmon almost 12, and Bowers just over 11 points. The last time the Tigers had three underclassmen lead the way in scoring was during the 1999-200 season.
The winning streak at home for Mizzou goes all the way back to the 2007-2008 season. Currently, Mizzou is tied with Pittsburgh and Dayton. The Tigers are one game behind the second longest streak in the nation which currently belongs to Siena. If Mizzou can keep the winning streak going to 34, that would tie a school record dating back to 1988.
Along with the Tigers current home winning streak, they have also won 10 games in a row at home against Big 12 opponents. This is a school record and something that the team has not done since a run of 19 straight conference wins from 1987 to 1991.
Nebraska comes into Columbia with an overall winning record, but have yet to win a game this season in the Big 12. The Huskers have also had a week off since they last played a game. They lost last Saturday to Iowa State, 56-53. Nebraska is lead by Senior Ryan Anderson who is averaging just over 11 points per game, and has 23 field goals from behind the arch. Everyone on the Huskers though is contributing to the effort, as nine players on the team play more than 11 minutes per game.
Fans attending today’s game will also be able to donate to the American Red Cross and the relief effort to help those left behind from the devistating earthquake in Haiti. The University of Missouri will be collecting cash donations during both the women’s game this afternoon at 1:00 against Baylor and also the men’s game.
The Tigers and the Cornhuskers will tip off at 5:00 this evening.
