Missouri vs. Arkansas Pine-Bluff: Game Updates

Missouri men's basketball opened up their season in convincing fashion. 

Sean East II led the way with 21 points on 7-for-8 shooting, while while four other Tigers scored 15 points or more. 

The win came as expected for Missouri against Arkansas Pine-Bluff, a fairly easy opponent to begin the season. The Tigers shot 40% from 3-point range, while holding the Golden Lions to just 27.5.

Here are the game updates from tonight:

First Half

• Sean East II kicks off the Missouri season with a 3-pointer, causing Mizzou Arena to explode. 
• Missouri forces an early Arkansas Pine-Bluff timeout. That's the way to kick off a season.
• Kaleb Brown enters the game to a solid ovation. 
• During a timeout, the video board showed Sean East naming sea animals. His fourth choice? Mermaids. 
• The first freshman to enter the game – Anthony Robinson ll.
• A dish from Nick Honor to Aidan Shaw gets Missouri's first true highlight play of the season.
• Missouri has kicked out to wide-open players on the 3-point line on several occasions. Great passing vision and ball movement from the entire lineup.
• A lot of fouls in this half. A combined 23 fouls with 3:56 to go, a very slow game thus far. 
• Scary fall for Caleb Grill, but seemed ok getting up. Knocked down both of his free throws before exiting the game.
• 2:31: Missouri 50, AR Pine-Bluff 38 – Tamar Bates converts an and-one opportunity. He has looked good in his first 10 minutes, scoring six points and not missing a shot yet. 
• No John Tonje in the first half was a bit of a shock. Unclear why the guard hasn't played tonight. 
• END OF HALF: Missouri 57, AR Pine-Bluff 40 – The late scoring stretch of Tamar Bates put the Tigers ahead be nearly 20 points, capping off a great first half of the season for Missouri. Four players scored double-digit points already, including Bates, Grill, East II and Honor. 

Second Half

• Hot five-point start for Honor this half. Hit a layup and drained a 3-pointer, 15 points in the half so far for the graduate guard. 
• 15:09: Missouri 70, AR Pine-Bluff 46 – Great past from East to Grill down low. Both veteran guards are playing exceptional basketball tonight, combining for 29 points so far. 
• Shaw has four blocks tonight. A really strong defensive performance and a promising sign for his season going forward. 
• Freshman Jordan Butler enters the game for the first time tonight mid-way through the second half. Slams a dunk shortly after and the Missouri crowd loves it. 
• A lot of strong highlight dunks tonight for Missouri. Grill slammed a two-hander on a fastbreak, and Bates soared over Pine-Bluff with a one-hander. 
• Sneaky amazing performance from Shaw tonight. All over the floor defensively, coming away with five blocks. 
• Butler knocks down a corner 3-pointer in the last 24 seconds to capitalize a 101-point outing from the Tigers. 
• FINAL: Missouri 101 – AR Pine-Bluff 79 – Exactly the type of game Missouri needed to kick off its 2023-24 season. East led the way with 21 points on the night, alongside Bates' 18 and Honor, Grill and Carter's 15 a piece.