Isiaih Mosley didn't play for Mizzou basketball vs. South Carolina. Here's what Dennis Gates said
During its 83-73 victory over South Carolina on Tuesday, Missouri men’s basketball did have an on-court contribution from Isiaih Mosley. The guard did not play in the game, spending most of it seated at the end of the bench.
Mosley appeared to be in uniform and had participated in some, but not all, of pregame warmups. After the game, Tiger head coach Dennis Gates did not have a clear answer for why the guard did not appear.
“Isiaih and I had a conversation before the game,” Gates said. “And we both felt that it was great to just, you know, take this one off.”
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Tuesday wasn't the only time this season where Mosley has missed time. After the Tigers' Dec. 17 win against Central Florida, the guard did not play again until Jan. 18 against Arkansas, missing six games.
That absence was due to an undisclosed personal issue. Before Tuesday, Mosley had played in six consecutive games for the Tigers, starting with the Arkansas win.
He is averaging 9.6 points per game. His best performance of the season came against Ole Miss when he had 20 points, five assists and two steals.
Mosley wasn’t the only Missouri player to miss the South Carolina game. Tre Gomillion was out with a groin injury, and Ronnie DeGray III missed due to a knee issue.
Gates has said he will proceed cautiously with those two, with an eye toward the long-term health of the Tigers heading into the postseason. He reiterated the point that he is making the decisions during Tuesday’s postgame press conference.
He pointed back to the Tigers’ Jan. 21 matchup with Alabama, which Kobe Brown missed with an ankle injury.
“He wanted to play, he was ready to play, I had to make the decision,” Gates said. “Tre Gomillion wants to play, I’m making the decision. Ronnie DeGray, these guys want to be out there, so I have to make the decision. Isiaih wants to be out there, but I have to make the decision as a head coach, and these guys trust me enough to do that.”
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Missouri moved to 18-6 on the season, 6-5 in SEC play, with Tuesday’s win. It will be back in action on Saturday on the road against Tennessee.
The Tigers and Volunteers are scheduled to tip off at 5 p.m. that day. The game will be aired on the SEC Network.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: What Dennis Gates said about Isiaih Mosley missing South Carolina game
