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Missouri Tigers Face Defensive Test Against Drake Bulldogs in NCAA Tournament

The No. 6 seed Tigers and No. 11 seed Bulldogs bring contrasting strengths to their first-round matchup tonight in Wichita, Kansas.

Bennett Stirtz #14 of the Drake Bulldogs dribbles up court during the Shriners Children's Charleston Classic college basketball game against the Florida Atlantic Owls at TD Arena on November 22, 2024 in Charleston, South Carolina.
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Overview

  • Missouri enters the game with a 22-11 record, boasting the fifth-ranked offense in the nation, while Drake brings a program-record 30 wins and the 46th-ranked defense.
  • The Tigers are led by Mark Mitchell, averaging 14.1 points and 4.6 rebounds per game, while Drake's Bennett Stirtz leads with 19.1 points, 5.7 assists, and 2.2 steals.
  • Missouri ranks ninth nationally in points per game (84.5), while Drake allows the fewest points per game (58.4), highlighting a clash of offensive and defensive philosophies.
  • Drake seeks its first NCAA Tournament win since 1971, having failed to advance past the first round in its last three appearances over five seasons.
  • The game is scheduled for 7:35 p.m. ET at Intrust Bank Arena, with analysts offering split predictions on the outcome of this tightly contested matchup.