Missouri's Mario McKinney Jr., the Nov. 6 game against Incarnate Word University. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
COLUMBIA, Mo. — With 8:37 left in the first half Monday night, Missouri coach Cuonzo Martin did something for the first time in a month: He played Mario McKinney Jr.
The freshman guard from St. Louis shook off any splinters he collected on the bench and recorded his second assist of the season on his first possession against Chicago State, finding center Reed Nikko inside for a post feed. By game’s end, McKinney had played 12 minutes, scored four points on a couple free throws and a second-half transition layup.