NCAAB Game Recap - Xavier at Missouri
Tue Dec 18, 2018 7:00 PM EST

SDak
53
Kansas
89
F
Princ
50
Duke
101
F
TexAr
55
Gonz
89
F
Buff
71
Syr
59
F
YSU
56
OhSt
75
F
UND
66
Marq
92
F
WCU
60
Iowa
78
F
Alc
49
UAB
76
F
FlaAM
64
Oreg
71
F
App
73
GTown
83
F
Elon
76
KennSt
67
F
SoFL
82
FIU
73
F
Drex
65
UConn
97
F
IUPUI
77
IPFW
87
F
StBon
76
Vermt
83
F(2OT)
UNCA
74
Stetsn
80
F
(N/A)
63
StFPA
96
F
Charl
83
Sien
58
F
Albany
43
Prov
73
F
Bingha
56
ND
69
F
Radf
58
UNCG
65
F
ChaSo
51
Clem
78
F
Citad
82
Campbl
76
F
MtStM
56
Amer
55
F
Xav
56
Mizzu
71
F
MorSt
67
WriSt
78
F
Oakl
69
UGA
81
F
TNSt
60
Akr
82
F
LACol
64
NWSt
84
F
ASU
57
SHSU
78
F
UL
80
McNee
67
F
Brad
74
GaSo
79
F(OT)
ECU
49
UNCC
55
F
Nich
68
ULM
95
F
Lib
75
Bama
84
F
Rice
75
UTRGV
67
F
WilBa
62
NOrl
90
F
MOSt
63
ArkSt
71
F
(N/A)
47
LoyIL
75
F
Mercer
63
Fla
71
F
Evans
64
Murr
66
F
Presb
67
Butl
76
F
Chat
72
TN-M
75
F
SFA
59
Baylor
58
F
N AL
50
JSU
64
F
N TX
74
NM
65
F
MTSt
64
Denv
76
F
HuTil
63
TXAMC
81
F
Crei
70
Okla
83
F
SDSt
74
E WA
64
F
SJSU
73
Stan
78
F
CAPoly
61
CSBak
74
F
USC
92
SCla
102
F(2OT)

Dec 18, 2018, 7:00 PM EST

Final

1

2

T

Xavier

27

29

56

Missouri

41

30

71

Tilmon's big night helps Missouri beat Xavier 71-56
Tue Dec 18, 2018 10:53 PM

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) When Jeremiah Tilmon caught the ball in the post on Missouri's first possession against Xavier, he waited for a double-team. It didn't arrive. So he spun into the lane and powered his way to the basket, hitting the shot and drawing a foul.

That turned into a recurring theme, as the 6-foot-10 sophomore forward scored a career-high 23 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead the Tigers to a 71-56 victory over the Musketeers on Tuesday.

"I'm not surprised, because if he's defended one-on-one and is not in foul trouble, I would imagine he would do similar to that on a regular basis," Missouri coach Cuonzo Martin said.

Tilmon entered the game averaging 9.7 points. His production has been limited by near-constant foul trouble. On Tuesday, he avoided silly fouls while playing solid defense on Xavier post players Tyrique Jones and Zach Hankins.

"Jeremiah Tilmon is an absolute load down there," Xavier coach Travis Steele said. "I thought he controlled the paint the entire game with his physicality around the rim."

Mark Smith and Jordan Geist each scored 13 points for Missouri (7-3), which won its fourth straight game. Quentin Goodin scored 21 points for Xavier (7-5).

Steele said Xavier's game plan was to pressure Missouri's turnover-prone guards to make post-entry passes difficult and then double-team Tilmon when he dribbled. But the Tigers avoided turnovers until the game was out of hand in the second half, and the double-teams didn't arrive in time to stop Tilmon.

"I thought they would come out and double-team me," said Tilmon, who made 10 of 15 shots from the field. "We've been working in practice for teams blitzing hard. When we got in the game, I thought they'd be blitzing me, but they weren't, so that was my time to keep the ball and get a basket."

After falling behind 9-3 early, Missouri went on a 17-0 run to establish control. The Tigers led 41-27 at halftime and increased the lead to as many as 29 points in the second half.

The Musketeers, normally efficient inside the 3-point arc, found the driving lanes clogged. They shot 39 percent, committed 17 turnovers and were outrebounded 38-32.

"I didn't think we showed up," Steele said. "Our execution was horrible. We were sloppy. That was from the beginning, even when we got up early. I thought Missouri was the tougher team, and that's disappointing."

BIG PICTURE

Missouri: Smith shot just 23 percent from 3-point range last season as a freshman at Illinois. Since transferring to Missouri, he's been a far different shooter. Smith made 3 of 7 from long range Tuesday and for the season is shooting 47 percent from 3-point range.

"He made himself a better shooter because of the time he put into it," Martin said. "He shoots them deep. When he shoots a 3-ball, I expect it to go in."

Xavier: In Steele's first season, the Musketeers' mastery of Missouri evaporated. Xavier had beaten the Tigers four straight times - including three times in the previous four years under coach Chris Mack - before Tuesday's loss.

TURNING POINT

With 11 minutes left in the first half, Tilmon stripped the ball from guard Paul Scruggs in the frontcourt and drove the length of the court. Tilmon picked up his dribble too soon to dunk, but he managed to lay the ball in the basket. That was part of a 17-0 run for Missouri.

"In my mind, I was going to dunk it, but when I got to the free-throw line, I saw a guy and thought if I bounced it again, he would take it," Tilmon said. "So I gathered myself and ended up making it."

GOODIN PLENTY

In an otherwise ugly offensive performance for Xavier, Goodin stood out. He made 6 of 10 shots - including 3 of 5 from 3-point range - and dished six assists.

"He's getting better," Steele said. "I think he's starting to learn a little bit more of what I want out of him, as far as how we want him to play offensively. . He's trying to make guys better and make the right plays."

UP NEXT

Missouri: The Tigers head to St. Louis for a neutral-site game against Illinois on Saturday at the Enterprise Center. Missouri will try to break a five-year losing streak in the annual Braggin' Rights rivalry game.

Xavier: The Musketeers return to Cincinnati for a home game Friday against Detroit Mercy.

Leaders

Xavier PTS +/- AST REB ST BLK
Q. Goodin 21 0 6 3 3 0
Z. Hankins 7 0 1 4 2 1
Missouri PTS +/- AST REB ST BLK
J. Tilmon 23 0 1 10 2 1
J. Geist 13 0 2 7 3 0

Team Comparison

Xav Mizzu
Points For 56 71
Field Goals 19/49-39% 26/58-45%
Three Pointers 6/19-32% 8/23-35%
Free Throws 12/21-57% 11/15-73%
Offensive Rebounds 8 11
Defensive Rebounds 24 27
Rebounds 36 39
Blocks 1 3
Steals 5 9
Turnovers 17 13
Personal Fouls 16 19
Technical Fouls 0 0
Ejections 0 0

2018-19 Reg Season - Mizzu Leads Series 1-0

Date Result Away Pts Ldr Home Pts Ldr
Tue Dec 18 Xav 56 @ Mizzu 71 Q. Goodin 21 J. Tilmon 23

Game Information

Stadium: Mizzou Arena, Columbia, Missouri
Attendance: 9,785
Game Time: