COLUMBIA, Mo. — Trent Pierce made a notable impact for the Missouri Tigers by coming off the bench to score a career-high 24 points, leading the team to an impressive 88-61 victory against Long Island University on Saturday. This win comes on the heels of Missouri’s recent triumph over the top-ranked Kansas, extending their winning streak to nine games following an opening season loss against Memphis.

The Tigers are currently in the midst of a stretch where they will play 12 consecutive home games, not facing an opponent on the road until they travel to take on No. 2 Auburn on January 4. In this latest matchup, Pierce showcased his skills by grabbing a long offensive rebound, sinking a three-pointer about six minutes before halftime, and converting a four-point play that widened Missouri’s lead to 30-17. He continued his scoring spree with three additional three-pointers and capped off the first half with a layup and dunk, accounting for 17 of the team’s final 19 points and propelling Missouri to a 45-24 advantage at halftime.

Pierce finished the game shooting 8 for 14 from the field, with a stellar performance beyond the arc, hitting 5 of 11 attempts, along with a perfect 3-for-3 from the free-throw line. He contributed significantly to the team’s defense as well, securing four rebounds, collecting three steals, and recording a blocked shot. Other notable contributions came from Marques Warrick, who scored 16 points on an efficient 6 of 8 shooting from the field, including 4 of 5 from three-point range. Mark Mitchell also made his presence felt, finishing with 15 points, seven rebounds, and five assists.

On the other side of the court, Malachi Davis was the standout for Long Island University (4-9), registering 12 points in the game, while teammates Terrell Strickland and Jalen Lee both added 11 points each.

As the season progresses, fans can look forward to continued updates on rankings and college basketball news.