In a game decided in the final seconds, the Mizzou men’s basketball team dropped a close contest against No. 21 Georgia Tuesday evening at Mizzou Arena. The Tigers fall to 13-6 (3-3 SEC), while the nationally-ranked Bulldogs move to 16-3 (4-2 SEC).
MIZZOU LEADERS
Senior Mark Mitchell led the way for the Tigers, recording 18 points, five rebounds and three assists.
Graduate Jayden Stone led the team in rebounds and assists, notching season-high eight rebounds and six assists to complement his 13 points. Classmate Jacob Crews also scored in double figures with 11 points behind three triples on the night.
GAME RECAP
In a half full of runs, the Tigers found themselves behind early after a quick 5-0 spark by the Bulldogs within a minute into the game. However, a 3-pointer by junior Trent Pierce followed by a layup by Mitchell helped nullify the Georgia lead and give Missouri an 10-7 advantage five minutes into the contest.
After the Missouri run, the Bulldogs’ defense took control as they held the Tigers scoreless for seven minutes with a 13-0 run for a 20-10 lead. The Tigers missed 10-straight shots – seven from 3-point range – to go with four turnovers as the visitors grabbed the only double-digit lead of the game.
A flagrant foul by Georgia aided the Tigers’ comeback efforts, extinguishing the Georgia lead with a 10-0 run after a triple by graduate Crews and an and-one layup by Mitchell.
The run led to a tied contest at 20 with six minutes left in the first half, before another spurt by the visitors to reclaim a seven-point advantage. The Tigers cut the deficit to three with a score of 29-26 going into the half.
Missouri found their defensive rhythm early in the second half as they forced the Bulldogs to miss their first three field goal attempts. A made free throw following a basket by senior Shawn Phillips Jr. regained the Missouri lead less than two minutes into the half.
Pierce took the game into his hands at the 16-minute mark with consecutive baskets, helping the Tigers to their largest lead of the game, 46-39.
Georgia once again had another response as a 10-1 run by the visitors put them in front by five, 67-62 – forcing the Tigers to miss seven-consecutive field goals during the stretch.
The Bulldogs regained momentum following a 10-1 run and the Missouri offense went cold, only capitalizing on one of their last ten shots.
The game was a nail-biter to the very end, as Crews connected with a triple with 18 seconds remaining. However, Georgia responded with just over seconds left, sealing a 74-72 victory for the Bulldogs.
TEAM STATS
Missouri shot 40.3 percent in the contest with a 11-of-12 clip (91.7 percent) from the free throw line. The Tigers defense held Georgia – the nation’s top-ranked scoring offense at 96.0 points entering the game – to 36.9 percent from the field with an 8-of-29 mark from 3-point range.
UP NEXT
The Tigers continue their homestand with Oklahoma on Saturday afternoon at Mizzou Arena. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. on ESPN2.
