COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Missouri quarterback Drew Lock usually dissects defenses with his arm. Wyoming learned the hard way that his legs have a little juice, too. Lock threw four touchdown passes and ran for another TD as the Tigers won 40-13 on Saturday night.

The senior quarterback is known for his gaudy passing numbers, and he added to them against the Cowboys, completing 33 of 45 passes for 398 yards. He added a career-high 51 rushing yards, which was almost half of his total for all of last season.

“I’m glad I could put that on film to show people I am athletic, even though I knew I was athletic the whole time,” Lock said with a laugh.

In the second quarter, Lock showed nifty footwork dodging defenders on a 12-yard touchdown scramble. He bowled over cornerback Antonio Hull to convert a third-and-7 play on the ensuing drive. He finished that possession with a 19-yard touchdown pass to tight end Albert Okwuegbunam that gave the Tigers a 16-0 halftime lead.

Missouri (2-0) scored on its first four possession of the second half to put the game out of reach.

“We got whupped,” Wyoming coach Craig Bohl said.

After a fruitless first half full of misfired pass attempts and stuffed runs, Wyoming (1-2) looked better offensively in the second half. Jevon Bigelow scored on a 7-yard touchdown run, and Cooper Rothe connected on field goals of 51 and 36 yards. Tyler Vander Waal completed 13 of 28 passes for 160 yards.

THE TAKEAWAY

Wyoming: Senior running back Nico Evans, who had rushed for 279 yards in the first two games, didn’t make the trip to Missouri. Without Evans, who injured his ribs in the third quarter of Wyoming’s loss to Washington State on Sept. 1, the Cowboys rushed for 88 yards against the Tigers.

Missouri: Emanuel Hall didn’t even start the first four games of last season, but since then he has established himself as one of the nation’s most productive wide receivers. Hall caught 10 passes for 171 yards and a touchdown against Wyoming, giving him 14 catches for 342 yards in two games. “He’s matured as a competitor,” Missouri coach Barry Odom said. “He’s matured in his ability to prepare the right way during the week. He has grown up. He has the ability at times to take over a game.”

UP NEXT

Wyoming: The Cowboys will host FCS opponent Wofford on Saturday.

Missouri: The Tigers will try to avenge last year’s 35-3 loss to Purdue when they play the Boilermakers in West Lafayette, Ind.

— Associated Press —

COLUMBIA, MO. – Mizzou sophomore forward Jontay Porter is one of 14 Division I players selected to attend the NCAA Elite Men’s Basketball Student-Athlete Symposium from Sept. 7-9 at the NCAA headquarters in Indianapolis. He’ll be joined by his father, Mizzou assistant coach Michael Porter Sr., at the event.

This is third annual symposium, which is designed for men’s basketball student-athletes who have an interest in continuing their playing careers professionally. Porter is the first Mizzou Basketball representative to attend the symposium since its inception.

“I’m honored­ to be selected to attend the Elite Student-Athlete Symposium and represent Mizzou,” Porter said. “It’s an incredible opportunity to continue preparing for the next level and life after college. I’m excited to grow and bring back what I learn to my teammates.”

An important piece of the NCAA Leadership Development program, the symposium is intended to educate college players on the expectations and responsibilities of being a professional athlete as well as planning post-professional career opportunities. The weekend will include a former student-athlete panel session, agent and players’ union discussions, engagement with professional leagues and a seminar on personal branding.

Porter appeared in all 33 games as a freshman last season for Mizzou and earned a share of the 2017-18 SEC Sixth Man of the Year Award after averaging 9.9 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. Porter ranked sixth in all of the SEC in rebounding while leading the league’s freshmen.

After an impressive rookie campaign, Porter tested his NBA Draft stock earlier this spring before withdrawing his name and returning for his sophomore season at Mizzou. Porter returns as a key piece for a team coming off its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2013.

— Mizzou Athletics —

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Former Mizzou Women’s Basketball player Jordan Frericks (Quincy, Ill.) signed a professional contract with Herner Turn Club in Germany, the club announced Sunday. Frericks played a key role in Mizzou’s 2016 and 2018 NCAA Tournament teams, averaging double-digit scoring figures and leading the team in rebounding both seasons.

Frericks, who graduated from Mizzou in May, earned Second Team All-SEC nods twice (2015-16, 2017-18) while playing in the Black & Gold. After missing the entire 2016-17 season due to a knee injury, Frericks returned for her senior campaign in 2017-18, where she was Mizzou’s second-leading scorer with 18.5 ppg and led the team in rebounding with 7.6 rpg. In 2015-16, Frericks earned Second Team All-SEC honors for the first time after scoring 12.1 ppg and leading the team in rebounding with 7.7 rpg. During her sophomore campaign (2014-15), Frericks led Mizzou in points per game (13.2 ppg), total rebounds (327), rebounds per game (9.9 rpg) and blocked shots (46). Her marks of 327 rebounds, 9.9 rpg and 46 blocked shots rank third, fifth and ninth, respectively, on the individual season records list.

“So many people have helped me, supported me, challenged me, coached me and encouraged me along the way,” Frericks said. “It’s pretty cool to look back and see where this journey started and where I am now and all the people that have impacted my life through basketball. I’m so grateful for this experience and so happy I never put a limit to where I wanted to go. There is a lot I can say about what Mizzou and the Mizzou Women’s Basketball program has done for me. I owe a lot to Coach P, the coaching staff, and my teammates. Coach P and her program encouraged and pushed me to grow in my confidence not only as a player, but a person as well. I was challenged to be my personal best in all areas on and off the court. I’m very thankful for everything Mizzou has done to help equip me for this next step as member of the Herner Turn Club.”

Frericks closed her career as one of 35 Mizzou players to score 1,000 points, finishing 11th all-time at 1,433 points. Among program records, she ranks second in rebounds (1,032), fourth in rebounding average (8.1), fifth in blocked shots (132), seventh in field goal percentage (.510) and ninth in free throws made (327).

— Mizzou Athletics —

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — When Drew Lock found out in December that Missouri offensive coordinator Josh Heupel was leaving to become the head coach at Central Florida, Lock considered following him out the door and declaring for the NFL draft. The quarterback ultimately decided to return for his senior season.

Judging by the smile Lock wore after Missouri’s 51-14 season-opening victory over Tennessee-Martin, he is happy with his decision. Lock completed 19 of 25 passes for 289 yards and four touchdowns in his first game under new offensive coordinator Derek Dooley.

“For him being a first-time play caller, he did great,” Lock said of Dooley. “He knew when to press the tempo. He knew when to slow it down.”

Last year, Missouri ranked eighth nationally in total offense and Lock threw 44 touchdown passes — a Southeastern Conference record. Heupel’s offense used a frantic pace to limit opponents’ ability to adjust or substitute, but it also limited Missouri’s ability to use different formations and personnel.

Dooley has slowed the pace a bit. Against UT Martin, Missouri frequently used a double-tight end formation that allowed Albert Okwuegbunam and Kendall Blanton to play together. At 6-foot-5 and 255 pounds, Okwuegbunam sometimes split out wide.

“People are going to have to prep for a lot of different formations against us,” Lock said. “It’s going to be different. We’re not just playing fast with similar formations where people can time up our stuff.”

One thing that hasn’t changed for Missouri is wide receiver Emanuel Hall’s ability to get behind defensive backs. He caught four passes for 171 yards and two touchdowns.

A bright spot for the Skyhawks, an FCS program, was the play of their run defense. They held Missouri to 3.7 yards per carry. Linebacker James Gilleylen had three tackles for loss. But that commitment to stopping the run came at a price.

“We’re not a man coverage team, but you saw us have to play it to get enough in the box in order to stop the run, and then the ball’s 60 yards down the field and they run past us,” UT Martin coach Jason Simpson said. “We’re not the only ones they do that to. They’ve done it for the last couple of years.”

The Skyhawks managed 277 total yards. Jamiee Bowe scored on a 1-yard run with 9:34 left in the second quarter. In the third quarter, LaDarius Galloway slipped out the backfield unnoticed and caught a 51-yard touchdown pass from Dresser Winn. Winn completed 15 of 24 passes for 168 yards.

Missouri led 38-7 at halftime. Lock exited the game after the first series of the third quarter but not before he passed Brad Smith into second place on Missouri’s career passing list. With 8,984 yards, Lock now trails only Chase Daniel, who had 12,515 yards from 2005-08.

THE TAKEAWAY

Missouri: Two true freshman wide receivers made big plays that suggested they might be significant contributors this season. On Lock’s final pass, Kam Scott made a leaping catch and stepped out of a tackle on his way to a 70-yard touchdown.

“He did a fantastic job adjusting to the ball, went up and high-pointed it,” Lock said. “He looked like a creature out there.”

Jalen Knox outjumped a defender and hauled in a 38-yard pass from backup QB Taylor Powell in the third quarter.

UT Martin: The Skyhawks dropped to 1-25 all-time against FBS opponents, but their coach said the players remain eager to play against the best competition.

“Every one of them would still line up and do it again,” Simpson said. “That’s the largest group, biggest crowd they’re going to play against this year.”

A TREE GROWS

Last year, Hall caught 33 passes for 817 yards — an average of 24.8 per reception. In the preseason, he spoke of becoming a more complete player who is a threat running every branch of a wide receiver’s route tree.

“If he can walk away from a game with four catches for 171 yards, I’ll take that route tree every time,” Missouri coach Barry Odom said. “I don’t think anyone in our program has taken more positive steps as a total player. I don’t think anyone’s done as good a job as Emanuel Hall has. He’s become more of a complete receiver.”

INJURY REPORT

Missouri escaped the season opener mostly unscathed. Kevin Pendleton, the regular starter at left guard, suffered a sprained knee in practice last week and didn’t suit up. Odom said he should return to practice this week. Starting safety Khalil Oliver left the game with a sprained ankle, but Odom said he might have been able to return if the score was closer.

UP NEXT

Missouri: The Tigers will play host to Wyoming.

UT Martin: The Skyhawks will visit Middle Tennessee State.

— Associated Press —

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Football senior QB Drew Lock (Lee’s Summit, Mo.) was named to the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Preseason Watch List, announced Tuesday (August 14). This is the fourth major award that Lock is up for after this year earning a spot on the Maxwell, Davey O’Brien Award and Walter Camp Watch Lists earlier this summer.

With Tuesday’s unveiling of the Golden Arm Watch List, every preseason list is now unveiled. In all, Mizzou had 17 total appearances on watch lists with those 17 appearances being comprised of nine different players.

Lock led the SEC in 10 offensive categories a year ago, including passing TDs (44), yards per attempts (10.0), yards per game (304.9), total offense (313.5) and passing efficiency (169.4). He is the SEC and Mizzou single season record holder for passing TDs with 44 in 2017. He also set Mizzou’s single season passing efficiency mark a year ago at 165.67. He was the All-SEC First Team selection at quarterback by both the AP and league’s coaches.

Mizzou Football will open the 2018 season on Sept. 1, 2018, against UT Martin at Memorial Stadium.

— Mizzou Athletics —

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Women’s Basketball announced its 14-game 2018 non-conference schedule on Monday, which features a pair of exhibition games, seven home contests at Mizzou Arena and a Thanksgiving weekend tournament in southwest Florida.

Head Coach Robin Pingeton’s squad will potentially face up to 10 teams that advanced to the postseason in 2017-18, including three who reached the NCAA Tournament. Mizzou’s challenging nonconference slate will include seven matchups with programs that recorded at least 20 wins a season ago, and five who finished in the top-70 of the final 2017-18 RPI.

After starting the season with exhibition games against Missouri Western (Oct. 29) and Washburn (Nov. 1), Mizzou will hit the road for its first regular season contest of the season at Western Illinois on Nov. 6. After facing WIU, Mizzou returns home for a three-game home stand against Missouri State (Nov. 14), Wisconsin-Green Bay (Nov. 16) and SIU Edwardsville (Nov. 18). In Mizzou’s matchup with Missouri State, the Tigers will look to win its 10th straight home opener dating back to the 2009-10 season as the two programs meet for the 28th time, with Mizzou holding a 19-8 advantage.

On Thanksgiving weekend, Mizzou will head south to Fort Myers, Fla., for an eight-team tournament at the Gulf Coast Showcase. Mizzou will open with a matchup against Michigan on Nov. 23. In the second round, Mizzou will face either Texas or Quinnipiac on Nov. 24, followed by a third game on Nov. 25. All three teams made the NCAA Tournament last season with Michigan and Quinnipiac advancing to the second round, while Texas made it to the Sweet 16. The Tigers are guaranteed a third game on Nov. 25 with the opponent to be determined based on game results.

Following Mizzou’s trip to the Sunshine State, the squad will kick off December by participating in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge for the second consecutive season with a road matchup against West Virginia on Dec. 2. The Mountaineers are coming off a 25-12 season in which they advanced to the semifinals of the Women’s NIT. The matchup will be the second meeting between the two schools, as the Tigers look to even the series following an 85-75 defeat in the 1996 Paradise Classic in Manoa, Hawai’i.

Mizzou will face in-state opponents in back-to-back games on Dec. 6 and Dec. 9, first hosting UMKC followed by a road contest at Saint Louis on Dec. 9. Mizzou has dominated the matchups with the two programs on opposite sides of the Show Me State, as it owns a 31-2 combined mark against the two programs (20-1 vs. Saint Louis, 11-1 vs. UMKC). A season ago, Mizzou defeated Saint Louis, 70-58, on Dec. 8, at Mizzou Arena behind a double-double (15 points, 10 rebounds) from senior Sophie Cunningham (Columbia, Mo.).

The Tigers will wrap up their nonconference slate with three of its final four games coming at Mizzou Arena. Mizzou will host South Dakota (Dec. 15), Texas State (Dec. 17) and Arkansas State (Dec. 30), with a road matchup against border rival Illinois (Dec. 21) sandwiched in between. Last season, Mizzou and Illinois rekindled its series for the first time since 2008 as the Tigers defeated the Illini, 72-55.

NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
Oct. 29 vs. Missouri Western (exh.)
Nov. 1 vs. Washburn (exh.)
Nov. 6 at Western Illinois
Nov. 14 vs. Missouri State
Nov. 16 vs. Wisconsin-Green Bay
Nov. 18 vs. SIU Edwardsville
Nov. 23 vs. Michigan*
Nov. 24 vs. Texas/Quinnipiac*
Nov. 25 vs. TBD*
Dec. 2 at West Virginia
Dec. 6 vs. UMKC
Dec. 9 at Saint Louis
Dec. 15 vs. South Dakota
Dec. 17 vs. Texas State
Dec. 21 at Illinois
Dec. 30 vs. Arkansas State

— Mizzou Athletics —

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Men’s Basketball will begin head coach Cuonzo Martin’s highly anticipated second season at the helm with its home opener vs. Central Arkansas on Tuesday, Nov. 6. The matchup is one of seven games at Mizzou Arena during the Tigers’ 2018-19 non-conference slate.

Mizzou then hits the road Nov. 9 to finish a home-and-home series with Iowa State. It will be the 235th all-time meeting between the former Big 12 rivals, with Mizzou owning a 150-84 edge in the series after a convincing 74-59 homecourt victory over the Cyclones last November. The Tigers have won 10 consecutive games over Iowa State, including the last four matchups at Hilton Coliseum.

Martin’s squad will then compete at the U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam tournament from Nov. 16-19, which features Kansas State, Oregon State, Northern Iowa, Old Dominion, Kennesaw State, Penn and Eastern Kentucky. The Tigers face Kennesaw State in the opening round (Nov. 16), either Oregon State or Old Dominion in their second game (Nov. 17 or Nov. 18), and a to-be-determined opponent in their final game (Nov. 19).

Mizzou returns to Columbia for a five-game homestand, beginning with a matchup vs. Temple on Nov. 27. It will be the first meeting between the Tigers and Owls since 1983 and the fourth all-time. Mizzou faces UCF at Mizzou Arena on Dec. 2 before hosting UT Arlington and Oral Roberts on Dec. 4 and Dec. 7, respectively.

The Tigers wrap up the homestand on Dec. 18 by squaring off with Xavier for the fourth time since 2014 and the eighth time in program history. Mizzou then heads to St. Louis for the annual Braggin’ Rights Game vs. Illinois on Dec. 22 at the Enterprise Center before rounding out nonconference play vs. Morehead State in Columbia on Dec. 29.

Full Non-conference Schedule
Tuesday, Nov. 6 vs. Central Arkansas
Friday, Nov. 9 at Iowa State
Friday, Nov. 16 – Monday, Nov. 19 Paradise Jam
Tuesday, Nov. 27 vs. Temple
Sunday, Dec. 2 vs. UCF
Tuesday, Dec. 4 vs. UT-Arlington
Friday, Dec. 7 vs. Oral Roberts
Tuesday, Dec. 18 vs. Xavier
Saturday, Dec. 22 vs. Illinois
Saturday, Dec. 29 vs. Morehead State

— Mizzou Athletics —

COLUMBIA, Mo. – The preseason awards keep coming in for Mizzou Football as the program placed a pair of players on both the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and the Outland Trophy Watch Lists, announced Tuesday (July 24) by the Football Writers Association of America. Senior DL Terry Beckner Jr. (East St. Louis, Ill.) and senior LB Terez Hall (Lithonia, Ga.) were each named to the Nagurski Trophy Watch List, which honors the nation’s top defender. Beckner and senior OLPaul Adams (Franklin, Tenn.) each earned a spot on the Outland Trophy Watch List, which honors the nation’s top interior lineman.

Mizzou now has a presence on 11 preseason award watch lists with more expected as the last of the awards are announced this week. The complete breakdown is below.

A game-changer against both the run and the pass, Beckner had his best season in a Mizzou uniform a year ago, starting all 13 games while posting career-high marks in tackles (38), tackles for loss (11.0), sacks (7.0) and QB hurries (five). He was the team’s Interior Lineman of the Year award winner a year ago. He is a fourth team Preseason All-American and All-SEC First Team pick in the Preseason by Athlon Sports as well. A spot on the Outland and Nagurski Trophy Watch Lists moves Beckner’s total to three this offseason after earning a place on the Bednarik Award Watch List last Monday.

Heading into his senior season, Hall is coming off of his best year in a Tiger uniform as a junior. He was a second team All-SEC performer according Pro Football Focus and earned the team’s Outstanding Underclassman Leadership Award for his inspirational contributions to the program. Hall took over a starting role at weakside linebacker last year, and was a big part of the defense leading the charge for Mizzou’s comeback season. He finished the season with 85 tackles, ranking second on the team, while his 12.5 tackles for loss were also second-best on the defense. He posted big back-to-back road games at Kentucky (10/7) and Georgia (10/14), where he had 12 tackles and 10 tackles, respectively, including a career-best 10 solo stops in Lexington. He also added 2.5 tackles for loss at UK and a pass break-up in Mizzou’s near comeback win. Hall finished the season with three double-digit tackle games in all, with the final one coming in a win over Florida, when he made 11 stops, including 1.5 tackles for loss and a pass breakup. Hall was named to the Butkus Award Watch List Monday.

Adams is a proven performer who is one of the SEC’s most experienced linemen. He will be looking to anchor the right side of the offensive line, where he has started all 25 games at right tackle the previous two seasons for the SEC’s most productive offense. He turned in another outstanding season, as a team captain who made all 13 starts at right tackle last season. He was part of Mizzou’s record-setting offense which led the SEC (ranking eighth nationally) in total offense for the second-straight season. The offensive line led the nation in fewest tackles for loss allowed for the second-straight season (2.85), and also led the SEC in fewest sacks allowed (1.0 per game – fifth nationally), while the Tiger offense also led the SEC in passing efficiency (fourth nationally), and scoring offense (14th in NCAA).

Mizzou on Preseason Award Watch Lists

• Maxwell Award (top offensive player) – Senior QB Drew Lock
• Bednarik Award (top defensive player) – Senior DL Terry Beckner, Jr.
• Davey O’Brien Award (top QB) – Senior QB Drew Lock
• Doak Walker Award (top RB) – Junior RB Damarea Crockett
• Biletnikoff Award (top WR) – Senior WR Emanuel Hall
• Mackey Award (top TE) – Sophomore TE Albert Okwuegbunam
• Butkus Award (top LB) – Senior LB Terez Hall
• Bronko Nagurski Trophy (top defensive player) – Senior DL Terry Beckner, Jr.
• Bronko Nagurski Trophy (top defensive player) – Senior LB Terez Hall
• Outland Trophy (top interior lineman) – Senior OL Paul Adams
• Outland Trophy (top interior lineman) – Terry Beckner, Jr.

Mizzou Football will open the 2018 season on Sept. 1, 2018, against UT Martin at Memorial Stadium.

— Mizzou Athletics —

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Football junior Damarea Crockett (Little Rock, Ark.) has been named to the Doak Walk Award Preseason Watch List, announced Wednesday (July 18). The initial watch list for the Doak Walk Award, which honors the nation’s top running back at the end of the season, features 64 of the nation’s elite, including Crockett.

Crockett is one of the SEC’s most dynamic running backs and he will return to Mizzou’s backfield after missing the second half of his sophomore campaign in 2017 with a shoulder injury. His blend of speed, size and power make him a candidate to break off big run after big run as he will have 1,000-yard potential moving into the year. In 2016, Crockett set Mizzou freshman records for rushing yards in a season (1,062), rushing yards in a single game (225), rushing touchdowns in a season (10) and tied the school record with four rushing TDs in a single game vs. Middle Tennessee (10/22). He finished the regular season ranked sixth in the SEC in rushing yards per game (105.8), tops among SEC freshmen. His 7.3 yards per carry ranked third among all qualified rushers in SEC games and again tops among freshmen.
Crockett ended the regular season ranked first in the nation among freshmen in rushing (96.5 yards per game) and that year he was the first SEC true freshman to rush for more than 1,000 yards since Georgia’s Nick Chubb and LSU’s Leonard Fournette did so in 2014. He was also Mizzou’s first 1,000-yard rusher since Russell Hansbrough in 2014.

Mizzou Football will open the 2018 season on Sept. 1, 2018, against UT Martin at Memorial Stadium.

— Mizzou Atheltics —

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Football senior QB Drew Lock (Lee’s Summit, Mo.) was named to the Davey O’Brien Award Preseason Watch List, announced Tuesday (July 17) by the Davey O’Brien Foundation. Lock is one of 26 quarterbacks on the preseason watch list for the award, which is given annually to college football’s top quarterback. This is the second major award that Lock is up for this preseason after earning a place on the Maxwell Award Watch List Monday, which is given to the top offensive player in college football.

Lock led the SEC in 10 offensive categories a year ago, including passing TDs (44), yards per attempts (10.0), yards per game (304.9), total offense (313.5) and passing efficiency (169.4). He is the SEC and Mizzou single season record holder for passing TDs with 44 in 2017. He also set Mizzou’s single season passing efficiency mark a year ago at 165.67. He was the All-SEC First Team selection at quarterback by both the AP and league’s coaches.

Mizzou Football will open the 2018 season on Sept. 1, 2018, against UT Martin at Memorial Stadium.

— Mizzou Athletics —