Mizzou takes on Utah State in round one of the NCAA Tournament

In the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, the University of Missouri (Mizzou) will face the Utah State Aggies. The Tigers are the No. 8 seed in the East Region and the Aggies are the No. 9 seed.

In an intense matchup, the two teams will square off in what promises to be an exciting contest. Mizzou comes into the contest with an overall record of 20-11, while Utah State has an overall record of 28-6. The Aggies have been dominant this season and have won 11 of their last 12 games.

Mizzou will look to the leadership of its senior guard, Dru Smith, who has been a steady presence throughout the season. Smith has averaged 13.6 points per game and 4.2 assists per game this season. He has also been a key contributor on the defensive end, leading the team in steals with an average of 1.8 per game.

The Aggies are led by guard Sam Merrill, who has been a consistent threat from beyond the arc all season long. Merrill is averaging 18.7 points per game and 3.9 assists per game, and has connected on nearly 40 percent of his three-point attempts.

The Aggies have a deep rotation of players and are very well-coached. They will bring a high level of intensity and toughness to the court, and it will be up to Mizzou to match it.

It should be a thrilling game as Mizzou and Utah State battle it out in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Both teams will be looking to make a deep run in the tournament, and this game will go a long way in determining who will move on to the next round.