Mizzou men’s basketball to honor seniors in final home game of the season
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Mizzou men's basketball team is getting set for the final home game of the season Saturday in a rematch against Ole Miss.
The Tigers enter the game coming off of two road wins, including the most recent comeback win at LSU. With MU tacking on another tight victory this season, head coach Dennis Gates said that adds a little confidence to how his team will perform down the stretch.
"In the SEC, we have so many tremendous coaches and some great players that you see any and everything," Gates said. "We've played in different games, different styles, against different teams and in different environments and it just gives our guys confidence and it's adding to their list of experience."
In the first meeting between Mizzou and Ole Miss in Oxford, the Tigers came out on 89-77 shooting over 53% from 3-point line. Gates said Friday that since that matchup at the end of January, his team has made some key strides forward.
"I saw us grow on the road as it relates to these last two road victories that we were able to get," Gates said. "In addition to that, you look at the identity of teams and having players fighting as much as they can to preserve their identity and protect the jersey, but also the connectivity."
Saturday's game at Mizzou Arena will also be Senior Day as Mizzou has potentially nine guys that have played collegiately for four years.
"We're definitely grateful for the guys that have joined our program that no longer have years of eligibility left, but this team is a memorable team," Gates said.
One of those seniors is graduate student Tre Gomillion who has used his final year of eligibility in Columbia. Gomillion said ahead of the game that this group is playing at their best headed into crunch time.
"This is the best part of the season," Gomillion said. "We got all our kinks out and all of our nerves, so I think by March going into April, I feel like we're playing our best basketball."
Gomillion has been battling a groin injury over the month of February and has gone from being a starter to slowly making his way back on the court. As his career comes close to the end, Gomillion reflects on what it's meant to him to end it with the Tigers.
"This year has meant everything," Gomillion said. "I thought Cleveland State was good enough, but I didn't know this year would top that. Coming from Cleveland State, being with Gates and going through those winning years, to do it at this level just means so much and to do it with Gates is just the icing on the cake."
Tipoff Saturday at Mizzou Arena is set for 2:30 p.m. and the Senior Day recognitions will follow.
