Updates from a top-20 battle in Starkville.
First Half
- Starters for Mizzou are per usual: Anthony Robinson II, Tony Perkins, Tamar Bates, Trent Pierce and Mark Mitchell
- Two traps, two forced turnovers for the Tigers. Good start defensively for Mizzou.
- This Mizzou defense has been swarming in the early going. Tigers have three steals already amidst a 10-2 start.
- Mizzou leads 12-5 with 14:47 left in the first half. The Tigers have swarmed Mississippi State on defense and have capitalized on the other end of the floor. Perkins and Mitchell have each knocked down a triple. But Mizzou has four turnovers of its own, including two by Robinson II.
- Jacob Crews knocks down a triple, stopping an 8-0 MSU run. #Mizzou leads 15-13 with 11:21 left in the first half. Tigers had missed their last six field goal attempts before Crews’ make.
- The firework show has commenced! Caleb Grill buries two triples in under 45 seconds, and Josh Hubbard just drilled a triple from downtown plus a foul. Mizzou leads 25-21 with the free throw pending. Just over seven minutes left.
- 35-30 Mizzou with 3:30 left. Grill has made three of five attempts from beyond the arc. There are few players in the sport right now that can get going at the drop of a hat like Grill can. Speaking of triples, Hubbard has four of them.
- Trent Pierce knocks down a wide-open three, and Mizzou has its largest lead of the half at 40-31. Tigers are 8/16 from beyond the arc.
- CALEB GRILL. FROM MERIDIAN.
- Mizzou leads 45-31 at halftime. Grill has 12 points on four triples, the last of which was completely maniacal and should not have been shot by over 99% of college basketball players. Tigers end the half on a 12-1 run.
Second Half
- Grill took an inadvertent shot to the head, grimaced, stayed in the game and converted a driving layup moments later. He’s got 14 points.
- My oh my, what a block from Mitchell to stop a dunk. Mizzou leads 52-37 with just over four minutes gone in the second half.
- Josh Gray just went 2/2 from the free throw line. Been that kind of afternoon for Mizzou.
- Grill drills three-pointer No. 5.
- Make it six!
- Mizzou leads 62-41 at the under-12 timeout. Grill has 22 points and a flaming pair of hands. The Hump has been silent for a long time now. Mississippi State just stopped a 15-0 Tiger run with a pair of baskets.
- Horse time! Gray converts an and-one bucket, although he missed the free throw. 66-41 Mizzou with just under 11 minutes left.
- Robinson II picks up his fourth foul with 10:26 left. He’s the lone Tiger that’s struggled mightily today; he has four points, four fouls and six turnovers.
- Rim protector Jacob Crews?!
- Tamar Bates knocks down a corner triple to make it 78-49 Mizzou with 4:40 to go. Mississippi State looks lifeless. The Hump is filled with despair.
- Mizzou leads 80-55 with 3:32 left. Unless Josh Hubbard goes Reggie Miller x5, the Tigers are going to walk out of Starkville with a dominant victory. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Tigers move up to 4-seed consideration after this one.
- Annor Boateng’s 3-pointer makes it 15 from beyond the arc for Mizzou. That’s a season-high for the Tigers.
- FINAL: Mizzou 88, Mississippi State 61 That was a complete destruction of a top-15 team. Tigers go 15/32 from three and were plus-eight (!) on the glass against a really good rebounding team. This is a win that’ll shine like a diamond come Selection Sunday. MU moves to 17-4 and 6-2 in the SEC.
Pregame Updates
Game Info
Missouri @ Mississippi State
When | 12:00 p.m. CT
Where | Humphrey Coliseum; Starkville, Ms.
TV | SEC Network | ESPN+
Radio | Tiger Radio Network // Sirius/XM -119/199
Twitter | @MizzouHoops
ESPN win probability | 70.9% Chance
5 Fan Questions
- How many steals will Anthony Robinson II have?
- Will Josh Hubbard be held to under 15 points?
- How many free throws will Mizzou attempt?
- How many rebounds will Josh Gray have?
- Will Dennis Gates pick up a technical foul?