Missouri Tigers Struggle on Courts as SEC Tournament Approaches

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Missouri Tigers began their postseason campaign with a crucial 85-73 victory over Mississippi State in the Southeastern Conference Tournament on Thursday, halting a three-game losing streak. This win comes at a pivotal moment as the Tigers look to regain momentum ahead of the NCAA tournament.

The No. 7 seeded Tigers faced early challenges, particularly with power forward Mark Mitchell exiting the game due to a right knee injury, raising concerns about the team’s depth as they advance through the tournament. Guard Tamar Bates broke a recent slump, contributing 22 points, while point guard Tony Perkins added 18 points, showcasing strong performances.

Following a shaky start, Missouri fell behind as Mississippi State seized an early lead. A critical 10-0 run allowed Missouri to regain control. The Tigers led at halftime, 39-34, leveraging a well-executed final play that resulted in an open 3-pointer from guard Caleb Grill.

Despite battling some injury woes, including an early second-half cramping incident for center Josh Gray, Missouri prevented a repeat of their previous performance in Nashville. Down the stretch, two critical 3-pointers from Trent Pierce and Bates extended their lead, allowing the Tigers to maintain their advantage in the closing minutes.

Defensively, Missouri held Mississippi State to 36.4 percent shooting from the field, the lowest percentage allowed by the Tigers in their last eight games. This performance indicates a potential turnaround for a team that had struggled defensively in recent weeks.

With this victory, Missouri advances to face the No. 2 seeded Florida in the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament. The two teams previously met on January 14, where Missouri narrowly edged Florida 83-82, but the Gators have since proved to be one of the league’s strongest teams with a 27-4 record.

The next game will test Missouri’s resolve as they aim for a deeper run in both the SEC and NCAA tournaments as they look to build on their season’s accomplishments and avoid the pitfalls of their recent slump.