Brown, Hodge lead Missouri past Iowa State

Veterans Kobe Brown and D'Moi Hodge lead the Tigers to a huge win in Columbia

D'Moi Hodge photo courtesy of Michael Scaglione/Missouri athletics

Sporting its retro Big 8 jerseys, Missouri (16-5, 4-4 in the Southeastern Conference) had strong performances from Kobe Brown (20 points, 12 rebounds) and D’Moi Hodge (17 points, five rebounds), taking down 12th-ranked Iowa State, 78-61, (15-6, 6-2 Big 12) at Mizzou Arena in  Columbia, Mo., on Saturday afternoon. 

Nick Honor(12 points), and DeAndre Gholston (10 points) pitched in with double-digit scoring, too, with the team shooting 49.1% from  the field.  

The Cyclones committed six turnovers in the first six minutes and a season-high 19 for the day. 

Jaren Holmes led ISU in scoring with 19 and Gabe Kalschuer added 14. The  rest of the Cyclones shot 44.8% from the floor.  

Missouri drains the 3s 

Hodge and Honor had the hot hands from the 3-point line, making a combined 9-of-17 shots. The Tigers shot 46.7% on 3. 

That was lower than the 55.3% the Tigers shot from distance in their last game against Ole Miss, but signiciantly better than their 10.7% from the disappointing game against Alabama. 

The Tigers moved the ball well, and it paid off in triples. The Iowa State defense was nowhere to be seen when Honor got the ball on the perimeter.  

Defensives woes for the Cyclones 

Iowa State came into this game ranked ninth nationally in scoring defense. However, that didn’t faze Missouri as the  Cyclones gave up 78 points, the most in a regulation game this season. 

The Cyclones started the  game with a strong, tight defense and were able to hold onto the Tigers throughout most of the  first half, but it all came down crumbling in the second. 

Iowa State was without veteran guard Caleb Grill. Not only did it miss his 10-point average but  also his impressive perimeter defense.  

Brown big on the boards, but needs help

Brown, Missouri's leader, once again put on a show, finishing the game with his 14th double-digit scoring game of the season. He also added another double-double to his list of season accomplishments. 

Kobe also stepped in big time to help the Tigers on the boards, with a team-leading 12. 

The next player with the most rebounds: Hodge... with only five. 

That's quite the difference, and it's been one of Missouri's issues. It led to 17 second-chance points for the Cyclones.

The Tigers ended the day ranked 361st in defensive rebounding percentage, according to Ken Pomeroy.

As for Brown, he shot 7-for-7 from the free  throw line and chipped in three assists. 

Many times during the game, Mizzou Arena  broke out into both “Kobe” and “MVP” chants.  

Big 12/SEC Challenge 

Today marked the end of the Big 12/SEC challenge, as after this year the SEC will begin its challenge against the ACC. Over the last 10 years, the Big 12 has been the victor, holding a 4-3- 2 advantage, but the last two years has seen the SEC come away with a victory. 

But as of this game's finish, Missouri is the only SEC team to beat a Big 12 team with Alabama, Auburn, and LSU losing in the league's first four games. 

This one, though, means a lot for as Missouri as it beat a rival from a former conference.

Up next

Missouri faces Louisiana State at home on Wednesday night, hoping to keep their winning streak alive and prove it deserves a ranking. 

Meanwhile, LSU lost 76-68 to Texas Tech, which had been winless in the Big 12. LSU has lost eight straight since a 60-57 home win against Arkansas on Dec. 28.