Missouri, D'Moi Hodge coast to comfortable win over Utah State in NCAA Tournament
Missouri certainly showed why it can be a dangerous team in the NCAA Tournament as it tangled with Utah State in a 7-10 matchup on Thursday afternoon.
The Tigers built an 11-point lead multiple times as they shot 51% from the field, and prevailed 76-65.
Mizzou was largely fueled by a big game from D’Moi Hodge, who poured in 23 points. There were 4 Tigers in double figures, including Kobe Brown with 19 points and 8 rebounds, DeAndre Gholston had 11 points, and Noah Carter added 10. It’s Mizzou’s first NCAA Tournament win since 2010.
Another story in the game was Mizzou’s 3-point defense, as Utah State was just 4-for-24 from long range in the game. Utah State didn’t make a 3-pointer in the first half.
It was a dramatic turnaround for a program and first-year coach Dennis Gates after the Tigers were 12-21 last season, and improved this season to 25-9.
Mizzou will play the winner of Princeton-Arizona on Saturday.
The steal and pull up 3️⃣ and the Mizzou lead is now 11 ?#MarchMadness @MizzouHoops pic.twitter.com/0Z04DsyNSU
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 16, 2023
D’Moi Hodge breaks up the pass and then hits the C&S 3 for Missouri pic.twitter.com/KBs3aqBv9W
— Aram Cannuscio (@AC__Hoops) March 16, 2023
Nice win, Tigers! Let’s keep it rollin’. MIZ!
now just make it the start of a long streak.
Go Tigers!!
nice job Mizzou. bama rolling too. Arky starting off strong. I hope we can follow suit…
It was a fun game to watch, especially holding Utah State for 4 of 24 from 3 point.
Nice win for Mizzou!
Absolutely. Proud of our league on day 1.
Congrats Missouri and Geaux Tigers!!
Please, for the love of god keep paying this man!!!
Good win, Mizzou.
Ha ha VA went down.
Nice win boys that was a good game. We beat the 19th ranked NET team and the #28 KenPom team, we’ll probably drop from #46 to #54 now.
i was thinking #64, but you may be closer
Congrats Mizzou! Looks like you’re facing Princeton.
Excellent game, Mizzou!!!!
I’m so proud of my Tigers ??? What an improvement.. in just ONE year with Dennis as our coach #thankgodwefoundagoodone Even better news for The Tigers, AZ lost so we will face Princeton on Saturday!! Not a guarantee W for the Tigers but this is why its CALLED March MADNESS ??? #TIGERALUM
Congratulations entire roster and coaching staff on getting us off to a NCAA tournament win and in fine fashion. Tiger basketball has a fine tradition that needs more big wins to look like Missouri tradition.
GREAT DAY TIGER WRESTLERS, Did we finish the day 3rd in the nation and how much is left? Can we still win it all? Or are two many men knocked out?
9 of 10 still in it. Only tiger eliminated is 133 / Brown and 6 out of those nine still on the winners side of the bracket.
lookout for any mizz grads/fans in your office pools. they just got a nice boost, potential path going fwd with the princeton upset
Good game, especially that we now have a coach that knows how to use Brown.