Oct. 21, 2011
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Columbia, Mo.It was a 71-61 win for the Black team on Friday at the anxiously awaited Black and Gold game. The No. 25 Tigers are under the new leadership of Head Coach Frank Haith, and expectations are high going into the 2011-12 season.
Kim English led the scoreboard with an impressive 27 points. The senior guard also tied redshirt freshman Kadeem Green and junior transfer Earnest Ross for most rebounds with seven boards apiece. Ross and senior Ricardo Ratliffe each put up 20 points.
Senior guard Marcus Denmon got the scrimmage started off with a nothing-but-net field goal and Steve Moore and Ross countered with back-to-back dunks on the other end. Ross, the 6'5 guard from Auburn, will have to sit out this season due to transfer rules, but didn't hesitate in showing Tiger Nation what he's got, putting up 12 points in the first half.
The Gold team sealed a close 33-31 lead going into halftime and both sides came back and hit the court strong after the break, staying neck-and-neck for most of the second half. It wasn't until late in the second that the Black team pulled ahead, building a solid 10-point lead.
Sophomore Phil Pressey and junior Mike Dixon went head to head on point. The two rotated as starting point guards last year and will continue to be a huge asset for the team this season. Pressey put up nine assists and grabbed four steals for the Black team. Dixon had four assists, a steal and nine points for the Gold team.
The 2011-12 squad welcomes back five starters and three outstanding four-year leaders in Marcus Denmon, Kim English and Steve Moore. The senior Tigers are just 23 wins short from tying the school record for career wins.
Senior standout Laurence Bowers is out for the season after suffering a knee injury earlier this month. Bowers was named to the All-Big 12 honorable mention team before his injury, along with Ratliffe.
The Tigers open the season at the One State, One Spirit Classic at Missouri Southern State University on Oct. 30.
