The Missouri men’s basketball team used a 16-2 run in the first half to hold off a stubborn Mules team of Central Missouri in the Tigers final exhibition game of the season, an 88-70 win at Mizzou Arena on Monday night. Ricardo Ratliffe led five Tigers in double figures with 21 points.
Ratliffe’s was 10-of-16 shooting with a game high nine rebounds. Junior Michael Dixon posted 17 points on 5-of-7 shooting, senior Marcus Denmon scored 15 points, senior Kim English scored 13 and senior Matt Pressey added 12. Phil Pressey dished out a game high nine assists.
The Mules led 19-17 advantage with 10:55 left in the first half before Mizzou went on their run. The Mules finished the game 24-of-54 for 44 percent from the field and 6-of-17 for 35 percent from behind the arc. UCM was 16-of-22 from the foul line for 73 percent.
The Mules will open the regular season on Saturday night at home hosting Westminster at 7 p.m. at the Multipurpose Building in Warrensburg. The Tigers officially open the 2011-12 season on Friday, Nov. 11 as the team hosts the SEMO Redhawks at 7 p.m. at Mizzou Arena.
After the game Marcus Denmon had this to say:
On team being ready for season opener this Friday…
“We’ll be ready. We are still a work-in progress but we’ve been working on things collectively as a team. On Friday hopefully we just come out and do the same thing.”
On Ricardo’s importance in the four-guard offense…
“I feel it’s the key to the four-guard lineup. Ricardo is a low down there and when you get the ball inside to him, usually good things happen.”
On Dixon’s importance as the “sixth” man…
“I feel like Mike (Dixon) is a really good player, and right now he’s been giving us a lot off the bench. Sometimes a sixth man role can be hard; I know I’ve done it before. But he has taken it in stride and he’s been productive in it.”