Missouri vs. UCLA preview: Tigers head west for marquee matchup

Looking to sustain the momentum from their big win over the Illinois Fighting Illini last week, the Missouri Tigers head west to take on the UCLA Bruins in their first true road game of the season Friday night. Mizzou has won six straight games since losing to then-No. 2 Louisville on Nov. 23.

The Tigers have already played three games on neutral courts this season, including the loss to Louisville and the win over Illinois, but none of those were technically road games. Friday's matchup at the Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles, Calif., will be a whole different kind of situation.

UCLA has had some mixed results so far this season, losing games to Georgetown, Cal Poly and San Diego State over a two-week stretch in late November and early December, but the Bruins have won their past four games.

Led by point guard Larry Drew II and freshman scorers Shabazz Muhammad and Jordan Adams, the Bruins have one of the better offenses in the nation.

Friday's game begins at 9 p.m. CT from L.A. The game is being broadcast on ESPN2 and streamed on WatchESPN.