COLUMBIA, Mo. – The latest standings are out for the Division I Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup, and the University of Missouri is sitting in the top-25 for the first time in program history.

The current rankings show Mizzou sitting at 25th – the highest standing at any point in time for MU since the rankings began in 1993-94 – with 408.75 points.

Mizzou jumped up thanks to a slew of strong performances at NCAA Championship events recently by several programs, including wrestling (4th place at NCAAs), men’s swimming & diving (11th), women’s swimming & diving (14th), women’s indoor track & field (15th) and men’s indoor track & field (46th).  In all, Mizzou has had seven sports score in the Learfield Cup so far this season, with six of them posting impressive top-25 national finishes.  The other two sports to score for Mizzou came this past fall in the way of football (11th) and soccer (17th).

The lofty ranking puts Mizzou in position to challenge its previous best final ranking in the Directors’ Cup.  The previous high-water mark for Mizzou was a 36th-place final showing for the 2008-09 season.  The highest that Mizzou had ever stood in the rankings at any point in time was a 27th-place spot heading into the spring sport season in that same 2008-09 year.

“We’ve had a goal of being a top-25 comprehensive program for a long time,” said Director of Athletics Mike Alden.  “This certainly doesn’t signal an arrival or a time to let up, but it is very rewarding to see this achievement and reflect on how proud we are of our student-athletes, coaches and staffs for their tireless efforts.  We’re confident that there will be even greater accomplishments to come,” he said.

From 1993-94 through 1997-98, Mizzou’s average yearly finish in the Directors’ Cup was 98th.  Since Alden took over in August of 1998, that average yearly rank has improved to 47th in the 16 years from 1997-98 through 2013-14.

The Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup is a national all-sport standing scoring system, assigning points to each institution for up to 20 sport programs, including 10 men’s and 10 women’s programs.  The cup was developed as a joint effort between the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and USA Today.  For more information on the standings, please visit www.directorscup.org.

— MU Sports Information —

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Missouri has confirmed that sophomore forward Johnathan Williams III is transferring.

Junior guard Deuce Bello also will not be back. The school said in a release Tuesday that Bello intended to graduate this spring and transfer to pursue graduate studies at another institution.

Williams averaged 11.9 points and 7.1 rebounds, leading the Tigers in both categories, and started all 32 games.

Bello made three starts and averaged 1.8 points and 1.1 rebounds.

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou wrestling concluded their historic 2014-15 season in mid-March, and today three members were honored by the Mid-American Conference (MAC) league office for their outstanding seasons.

Redshirt freshman Willie Miklus was named MAC Freshman of the Year, redshirt senior Drake Houdashelt was selected as MAC Wrestler of the Year, and Head Coach Brian Smith was tabbed MAC Wrestling Coach of the Year.

After redshirting last season, Miklus jumped onto the national scene this year following his 18-0 start to the 2014-15 campaign. Miklus earned national notoriety early on after defeating Old Dominion’s No. 2 ranked Jack Dechow on Nov. 23, 2014.

Following a runner-up finish at 2015 MAC Championships, Miklus concluded his breakthrough season with a seventh place finish and All-American honors at 2015 NCAA Championships. The Altoona, Iowa native defeated four ranked 184 pound foes in St. Louis, Mo. en route to his first career All-American award.

Houdashelt’s storybook career in black and gold concluded in a big way, as he claimed his first career National Championship at 149 pounds. The O’Fallon, Mo. native capped off his outstanding 2014-15 season with a 3-1 decision victory over Edinboro’s No. 3 ranked David Habat in the 149 pound title matchup.

The redshirt senior earned Mizzou wrestling their sixth all-time National Championship. Houdashelt also became just the third grappler in program history to accumulate three or more All-American honors in their career. Furthermore, he became the first Tiger ever to win four conference crowns after taking top honors at 2015 MAC Championships.

Houdashelt’s 134 career wins is third most in Mizzou wrestling history, while his .854 career winning percentage ranks fifth place all-time. Additionally, his 39 career major decisions is the most in Tiger Style history.

Smith’s recognition marks his third consecutive MAC Wrestling Coach of the Year honor. Dating back to the 2011-12 season when he took home Big 12 Coach of the Year honors, Smith has now been the recipient of four straight Coach of the Year awards.

Mizzou and Coach Smith wrapped up a perfect 24-0 regular season after defeating then No. 1 Iowa on Feb. 22, 2015 for the 2015 National Duals Finals Championship. The 24 wins this season were the most ever in Mizzou wrestling history, and it marked only the second undefeated season in program history.

Smith also helped lead the Tigers to the 2015 MAC Championships crown. It was the fourth straight conference tournament title for Mizzou, dating back to the 2012 Big 12 Championships crown.

— MU Sports Information —

Indianapolis, Ind. – Mizzou senior Morgan Eye has been selected to compete at the 27th annual State Farm College Slam Dunk & Three-Point Championships, as announced on Monday by Intersport. Eye will compete in the Women’s Three-Point Championship contest on Thursday, April 2 at 6 p.m. CT. The competition is set to air on ESPN.

Eye has been nothing short of a three-point shooting all-star as she set the Mizzou single-game, single-season and career three-pointers records at Mizzou. Not only that, but the Tiger team set the single-game and single-season SEC three-pointers made records as well.

In addition to the Women’s Three-Point Championship, the event will feature the Marines’ Men’s Three-Point Championship, Fitbit Battle of the Champions (Men’s winner vs. Women’s winner) and the Denny’s Slam Dunk Championship.

The event will be held at Butler University’s Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind. Tickets for the State Farm College Slam Dunk & 3-Point Championships can be purchased on Ticketmaster.

— MU Sports Information —

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – No. 23 Mizzou baseball dropped the series finale against top-ranked Texas A&M, 14-6, on Sunday afternoon at Blue Bell Park.

Junior starter Peter Fairbanks (St. Louis, Mo.) allowed four runs and two home runs over the first three innings and the Tigers hit into three double plays in the middle innings to quell rallies before A&M broke the game open late. The loss drops the Tigers to 20-9 and 6-3 in the SEC. Texas A&M improves to 27-2 and 7-2 in the SEC.

The 14 runs allowed by the Tigers are a season-high as are the 17 hits by the Aggies on Sunday. The Aggies broke the game open in the sixth, sending 13 batters to the plate while scoring nine runs on seven hits. Mizzou rallied with five runs in the top of the seventh, but it was too little, too late for the Tigers.

Fairbanks took the loss, his third of the season. Sophomore Jake Ring (Ingleside, Ill.) tallied his third three-hit game of the season, going 3-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI. Freshmen Brett Bond (St. Louis, Mo.) and Trey Harris (Powder Springs, Ga.) each tallied multi-hit games as well. Brett Peel (St. Charles, Mo.) reached base safely for the 26th consecutive game.

Fairbanks struggled through three innings, allowing a pair of homers as Texas A&M opened a 4-0 lead after three innings. Mizzou threatened to score in the third and fourth innings, putting a pair of runners on with one outs and nobody out, respectively. But A&M starter Matt Kent induced a couple of double plays to escape jams in both of those innings.

Fairbanks issued a four-pitch walk to open the fourth inning and that ended his day in favor of senior reliever Andrew Schwaab (St. Charles, Mo.), who retired the side on eight pitches in the fourth. Schwaab then got into some trouble in the fifth inning, allowing back-to-back, one-out singles. J.B. Moss then hit a two-out single through the left side to give A&M a 5-0 lead.

The Tigers again threatened in the top of the sixth as three consecutive singles loaded the bases for the middle of the order and cleanup hitter Josh Lester (Columbus, Ga.). He struck out swinging on a 3-2 fastball and Ryan Howard (St. Charles, Mo.) bounced into a 5-4-3 double play to end the threat as the Tigers came up empty.

A&M then made the Tigers pay for missing that chance, plating nine runs in the bottom of the frame, four coming on a grand slam by Logan Taylor. Mizzou rallied in the seventh for five runs in the top of the seventh, but the damage had been done as the Tigers tacked on another run in the ninth.

Mizzou will be back in action, facing a nationally-ranked Illinois team Tuesday at GCS Ballpark in Sauget, Ill., at 6:35 p.m.

— MU Sports Information —

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – No. 23 Mizzou baseball evened its series with top-ranked Texas A&M with a 3-2 win on Saturday afternoon (March 28) at Blue Bell Park. The win improves the Tigers to 20-8 and 6-2 in SEC play. Texas A&M falls to 26-2 and 6-2 in SEC play and the loss is the Aggies’ first at home this season.

The win for Mizzou is the eighth one-run win of the season for the squad and it is also the Tigers third over a top-10 opponent this season. The Tigers are now 8-1 in one-run games this season and 3-1 when tied after seven innings. The Tigers are also now 14-2 away from Taylor Stadium this season. Freshman Tanner Houck (Collinsville, Ill.) picked up his third win of the season, going 7.0 innings while scattering eight hits and allowing only two earned runs. He struck out three and walked two. Junior closer Breckin Williams (Oronogo, Mo.) earned the two-inning save, his seventh of the season. Texas A&M’s Ty Schlottmann took the loss, his first of the season.

Offensively, Mizzou was out-hit 12-7 and each team stranded 10 baserunners in the game. But the Tigers got the hits when they needed them. Sophomore Ryan Howard (St. Charles, Mo.) lined a full-count fastball down the right field line for a go-ahead, RBI double in the top of the eighth inning, scoring Josh Lester (Columbus, Ga.) from first base. Howard was one of two Tigers with a pair of hits Saturday, joining sophomore Jake Ring (Ingleside, Ill.) who went 2-for-3 with a pair of walks. Brett Bond (St. Louis, Mo.) and Logan Bone (Festus, Mo.) also added RBIs in the win. Brett Peel (St. Charles, Mo.) went 1-for-3 with a walk as he reached base safely for the 25th consecutive game.

The Tigers also played phenomenal defense, getting Houck out of huge jams in the fourth and sixth innings, both times using the double-play combination of Howard and Peel. Ring also made a sensational catch in the bottom of the eighth inning to help Williams escape with a shutout frame.

Houck cruised through the first inning, but All-American Nick Banks roped a 0-2 slider into the bullpen in right field to lead off the second inning for his second homer of the year. That gave Texas A&M a 1-0 lead and the Aggies added to it in the third inning. A double by Hunter Melton to open the frame led to an RBI single by shortstop Blake Allemand, staking the Aggies to a 2-0 lead after three innings.

Mizzou evened the game in the top of the fourth thanks to an error in left field by Logan Taylor, putting runners on first and second for Brett Bond (St. Louis, Mo.), who roped an RBI single into right field to cut the lead in half. Logan Bone (Festus, Mo.) then laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to score a run from third to tie the game at 2-2.

Both teams missed opportunities to score in the middle innings until Ryan Howard (St. Charles, Mo.) got a huge RBI double in the top of the eighth inning, scoring Lester from first. Howard worked a full count against Schlottmann and ripped an inside fastball down the right field line to score Lester from first. Williams then came on in the eighth and got a huge strikeout with runners on the corners to send the game to the ninth.

A&M put runners on the corners with just one out in the ninth inning, but Williams got a pop-up to left and a grounder to short to escape the jam, saving his seventh game of the season. He threw 33 pitches in the outing.

Mizzou and Texas A&M will play the rubber game of the three-game series Sunday at 1:05 p.m. at Blue Bell Park.

— MU Sports Information —

ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Redshirt senior Drake Houdashelt tallied a thrilling 3-1 SV1 decision victory over No. 3 David Habat (Edinboro) Saturday evening at Scottrade Center, becoming the fifth individual and sixth overall National Champion in Mizzou wrestling history.

The O’Fallon, Mo. native outscored his five opponents 30-3 this week at the 2015 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships. Two of those wins came by major decision shutouts, while the other three victories came by decision.

Tonight marked Houdashelt’s first career National Championship. After finishing sixth in 2013 and fifth in 2014, the redshirt senior’s 2014-15 season proved to be his breakthrough campaign.

Houdashelt also becomes just the third grappler in program history to accumulate three or more All-American honors in their careers. He now joins Ben Askren (four-time AA, 2004-07) and Max Askren (three time AA, 2007-10) in the exclusive club.

The final resume for Houdashelt at Mizzou is one for the records books. He leaves a four-time conference champion (2012 Big 12, 2013-2014-2015 Mid-American Conference), making him the only individual in Mizzou wrestling history to accomplish that feat.

Further personal accolades include ending his career with 134 wins, putting him at third place in the Mizzou wrestling all-time wins list. He also leaves Columbia, Mo. with a .854 career winning percentage (fifth place), and 39 career major decisions which is the most in Tiger wrestling history.

As the last competitor for the Tigers this week, Houdashelt’s win locked up a fourth place team finish with 73.5 points. This year’s NCAA Championships team score is the best finish for Mizzou since 2006-07.

The 2006-07 Mizzou squad finished in third at NCAA’s which still stands as the highest final standing in program history. In all, the 2014-15 NCAA Championships finish of fourth place is the sixth all-time top-10 finish in Mizzou wrestling postseason history.

Check-in to MUTigers.com for the latest information on all things Mizzou wrestling. You can also find the Tigers on social media, by liking us on Facebook and following us on Twitter (@MizzouWrestling).

2015 NCAA Wrestling Championships Final Team Standings

1) Ohio State – 102.0
2) Iowa – 84.0
3) Edinboro – 75.5
4) Missouri – 73.5
5) Cornell – 71.5

— MU Sports Information —

The University of Missouri and University of Idaho football programs have agreed to a single game between the two schools on Oct. 21, 2017.  The game will be played in Columbia, Mo., and be the final non-league game of the season, following earlier games that against Missouri State (Sept. 2), Purdue (Sept. 16) and a road game at UConn (Sept. 23).

Dates for Mizzou’s SEC portion of the 2017 season have not been set, but the Tigers will have conference home games that season against Auburn, Florida, South Carolina and Tennessee, and will face road games at Arkansas, at Georgia, at Kentucky and at Vanderbilt.

“Our thanks to the Idaho administration and staff, we’re very pleased to work together to get this game scheduled,” said Executive Associate Athletic Director Bryan Maggard, who oversees scheduling for Mizzou Football.  “We appreciate their efforts and are glad to be able to close out the schedule for the 2017 season,” he said.

Mizzou and Idaho have played two times previously, with both games taking place in Columbia.  Mizzou won both contests, claiming a 14-10 win in 1958 which marked the first-ever win at MU for legendary Head Coach Dan Devine.  The Vandals would return to Columbia in 1963, where Devine’s Tigers rolled to a 24-0 victory.

— MU Sports Information —

ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Mizzou wrestling saw three grapplers advance to Friday morning’s quarterfinals round, as redshirt senior Alan Waters, redshirt senior Drake Houdashelt and sophomore J’den Cox all remain in hunt for an individual national championship.

Waters shut out Conor Youtsey (Michigan) to advance at 125 pounds, Houdashelt claimed an 8-0 major decision shutout over Brandon Nelson (Purdue) at 149 pounds, and Cox tallied a 6-2 decision against Jeff Koepke (Illinois) at 197 pounds.

After claiming wins in Session No. 1, four Tigers dropped their Session No. 2 matches and fell to their respective weight classes’ wrestlebacks brackets.

Sophomore Joey Lavallee rebounded nicely after dropping his first match today, and defeated Steven Hernandez (Boise State) by 9-0 major decision. Lavallee continues 157 pound wrestlebacks action tomorrow morning.

Redshirt senior Johnny Eblen ended Mizzou’s day on a positive note with another Tiger bonus points victory, as he defeated No. 13 Tanner Weatherman by 8-0 major decision.

Nine of ten Mizzou grapplers remain alive following Thursday’s opening day, as redshirt sophomore Zach Synon was the only Tiger to see his season come to an end. Synon’s excellent 2014-15 season concludes with a 31-13 record and a 133 pound MAC Championship to his name.

2015 NCAA Wrestling Championships third session begins at 10 a.m. (CT) Friday morning. Session No. 4 is set for a 7 p.m. (CT) start time.

— MU Sports Information —

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Police said Wednesday they failed to identify a suspect and have closed their investigation of a former University of Missouri swimmer’s claims she was raped by several football players, more than a year before her suicide drew sharp criticism about the university’s handling of the matter.

Columbia, Missouri, investigators of Sasha Menu Courey’s claims “encountered several obstacles” that included the lack of DNA and video evidence, uncooperative witnesses and the elusiveness of firsthand accounts of how or where the alleged sexual attack took place, police spokeswoman Bryana Maupin said.

Menu Courey, who grew up in Toronto, was 20 when she killed herself in June 2011 at a Boston psychiatric hospital after withdrawing midsemester from classes at Missouri. She had been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder that her family said she grappled with before college but that went undiagnosed.

Before her death, she told health professionals bound by confidentiality that she had been sexually assaulted off-campus as a freshman at Missouri in February 2010 by as many as three football players.

The matter was not investigated by the university at the time, and no one was arrested or disciplined.

The Associated Press normally doesn’t name alleged victims of sexual assault, but Menu Courey’s parents have publicly discussed the case at length, as has the university.

A law firm’s outside review ordered by the university into the allegations last year faulted the university’s response to the late athlete’s claims, concluding the school fell short of federal standards for the reporting and investigation of sexual assault on campus.

The report determined that the school’s Title IX coordinator and Columbia police in November 2012 should have been alerted to Menu Courey’s claims after a public records request by her parents produced documents alluding to the possible attack.

ESPN’s “Outside the Lines” in January of last year raised numerous questions about the university’s response to Menu Courey’s death. The school initially said it didn’t act sooner under the 40-year-old Title IX law or more recent U.S. Department of Education instructions because neither Menu Courey nor her parents sought a police investigation and didn’t respond to a later request for information.

The Education Department in 2011 had warned schools of their legal responsibilities, including the need for immediate investigations that don’t rely on criminal cases to move forward.

The university system’s president, Tim Wolfe, and the Columbia campus’ chancellor, Bowen Loftin, said in a joint statement Wednesday that their sympathies go out to Menu Courey’s family, friends and teammates.

“Though we cannot bring Sasha back, we can make the University of Missouri a safer and stronger place in her name,” the administrators’ statement said.

Wolfe last year issued an executive order requiring all university employees other than those legally bound by confidentiality to report such claims to the university’s Title IX coordinator.

Although Maupin, the police spokeswoman, said investigators still would welcome information about Menu Courey’s case, the late swimmer’s father said the failure to resolve his daughter’s case was “disappointing.”

“We believe there are people out there that know something, but nobody has come out and said anything,” Mike Menu told The Associated Press from his Toronto home. “But we’re still hoping someone will hear something about this, come out and want to make this right, not only for Sasha but for others in similar situations.”

— Associated Press —