Gardner goes all-out

It was just one game, an exhibition one at that, but Thomas Gardner didn’t care if the win never shows up on this year’s record.

It should be no surprise, then, that with 6:21 remaining in a 40-point blowout, Gardner was sprawled on the floor of Mizzou Arena after diving for what some might consider a meaningless loose ball.

“Even if we’re winning by 60, if we go out there and dive for loose balls and do the little things, I think in a close game, it’ll be our nature,” Gardner said.

If the hustle hadn’t earned him a rest, surely his game-high 22 points had. It was the last play of Gardner’s evening as coach Quin Snyder rested most of his upperclassmen down the stretch.

With a television timeout less than a minute later, it was the last image for many of the 6,153 on hand as they headed for the exits early. But it had to give those that saw it hope.

Snyder has said that consistently playing hard is the only way his team can guarantee a competitive product. If that’s the case, Gardner’s example will only help as the season progresses toward more esteemed opponents.

Gardner said his emphasis has been on the defensive end, but it was hard to ignore his 8-for-14 shooting night. The Tigers as a team finished at 64 percent from the field, but maybe more importantly shot 74 percent on their 38 free-throw attempts.

An aggressive approach led to several breakaway dunks for Gardner, and he converted 4-of-6 free throws.

“I have to be efficient,” Gardner said. “Last year I was really up and down, so this year I want to get to the free-throw line, play off my teammates and just take the shots when I got ’em.”

Snyder said he wanted his team to play hard defensively and unselfish offensively and seemed to like what he saw from Gardner who had two assists and two steals without a turnover.

“When Thomas Gardner drives and kicks to Matt Lawrence there near the end of the half, Matt’s going to make that shot because Thomas showed enough confidence in him to kick it,” Snyder said. “And Matt knocks it down, and that’s a huge play.

“To me that epitomizes how our guys have tried to be with one another.”

Beating Bemidji State is far from beating Texas or Kansas, but it’s better than a passing grade on a first test. Although many questions remain, a few repeat performances will have Gardner ready to fill the void left by the departure of last year’s leading scorer Linas Kleiza to the NBA.