The Tigers open the SEC Tournament with the No. 10 seeded Bulldogs, who are looking to avenge their loss from earlier in the year.
First Half
- The Bulldogs get the first buckets of the game after a lengthy delay thanks to Texas and Texas A&M going to double overtime. Bates is found in the corner for a three-pointer, to give the Tigers the lead. Bulldogs answer back though forcing turnovers and making buckets, and Robinson picks up two fouls early and the second one is questionable. Huge loss for the Tigers, and Robinson is heated. Perkins makes a nice play in transition off of a Gray rebound, but the Tigers foul the Bulldogs on a three-pointer so three shots pending. Bulldogs lead 8-7 with 15:58 remaining in the half.
- The Tigers are finding a rhythm, constantly catching the Bulldogs sleeping in transition. They have found easy lanes to the basket. Tamar Bates with a beautiful reverse move, and the Tigers are on a 10-2 run. This may not be the shooting fireworks we saw in Starkville, but this Mizzou team is burning the Bulldogs through the lane. Mitchell with another gorgeous take to make it a 12-2 run, but the Bulldogs answer with a DEEP three. Perkins with a fadeaway jumper, and he already has eight points which is close to his season average. Tigers lead 19-13 at the under 12.
- Both teams trade buckets but a costly turnover by Gray and Warrick fighting over a rebound leads to an easy bucket for the Bulldogs. Pierce hits a three in transition WITH the foul, he’ll have a chance at massive four-point play. He converts. The Tigers consistently hold a healthy lead, but have been unable to break fully loose. 28-20 Tigers with 7:57 left in the half.
- Bulldogs have answered with a quick 7-0 run and look the more opportunistic team on the glass. The Tigers are just 2-7 from three-point land, and Grill has not had a single make yet. The run becomes an 8-0 run, but Bates is wide open in the corner and drains his second triple of the night. 31-30 Mizzou with 3:58 left in the first frame.
- Beautiful three in transition from Crews is answered by Keshawn Murphy getting inside. He almost hits another one that was mostly a heat check. Crews then literally has his arm hooked yet he gets the foul for the player hooking his arm and pulling it down, and then he misses the free throw in a ball don’t lie moment. BATES with an emphatic flush for his 12th point of the half and then Perkins with a block on the other end that fires up the Mizzou bench. THERE’S HIS FIRST. Final possession of the half and Grill is left wide open and hits a three. Mizzou leads 39-34 at halftime.
Second Half
- Josh Gray has no points but a staggering 10 rebounds so far, as the Bulldogs get a four-point play opportunity to begin the half. They miss the free throw, and then Bates taps in a rebound off of a missed three from Grill. Grill misses another really open look, which is starting to be the routine tonight. Just like that a 7-2 run has the Bulldogs level. Gray with his first points on a beautiful dish to the paint. Another wide open three missed, this time it is Pierce. Foul on Murphy on the floor, as Gray heads to the locker room with an apparent calf injury. 43-41 Tigers at the under-16 timeout.
- Grill misses a reverse dunk attempt, just barely missing the iron. Then takes a foul on a three-point shooter in Kugel, who will have three attempts at the line. Grill has just those three points at the end of the half, and is shooting 1-9 from the field. A stark difference..to the game in Starkville. The Bulldogs get to the line again, and have shot ELEVEN more free throws than Missouri. Additionally, Mark Mitchell has been off the floor for an extended time, with Aidan Shaw getting a lot of minutes. Just as I say it SHAW WITH THE SLAM AND THE FOUL in transition. That’s what he does best. He misses the free throw and then Crews gets the board, and Robinson draws three foul shots on a three-point attempt. 50-47 Mizzou at the under-12.
- Perkins hits two free throws to begin. Hubbard is matching Grill’s energy for a three-point slump, but he seems to have just hit a huge shot for his confidence. Two straight missed defensive boards leads to an easy putback for Miss State. Crews is blocked, Kugel the other way hits the drive in transition with the foul and the Bulldogs have the lead again. Mark Mitchell is still not being put on the floor, which if not for injury reasons is very puzzling. Pierce knocks down a ginormous triple to tie the game. Bates with a stepback three and he has 17 now, looking like the Bates we saw willing Mizzou to victory against kansas. 58-57 Mizzou with 8:33 left in the game.
- Bates with a beautiful drive to the hoop to give Mizzou the lead, but the Tigers are trading buckets. Crews then hits a beautiful three, but its negated by a four-point play from the Bulldogs. Two free throws from the Tigers, and this game is just back and forth. Robinson finds Grill down low, and he flushes it with authority. Aidan Shaw then has a huge block, after not getting many minutes all season he is playing big here in the clutch. 71-69 Mizzou at the final TV timeout of regulation.
- Grill misses another three, but Shaw picks up a massive rebound and draws the foul going back up. He hits one out of two, to give the Tigers a three point lead. PERKINS. Big tough play on the inside and he is having his best game of the year at the perfect time. TURNOVER by the Bulldogs. 74-69 Mizzou with 2:14 left in the game.
- Robinson draws the foul in the backcourt, and with Mizzou in the double bonus that is costly for the Bulldogs. Bates gets a nice bucket off of an inbounds play, puts him to 21 points and its 77-71 Mizzou with less than a minute left. The Tigers have gotten a few good stops.. and this one is over! Huge play down the stretch from Perkins, Robinson, Bates, and Shaw and that has been the difference here. The Tigers now have a date with the No. 2 seeded Florida Gators tomorrow. 85-73 Tigers.
Pregame Updates
#Mizzou posted a clean injury report for this game. The Tigers will have everyone available, as expected, to start the postseason. https://t.co/hBwB16V6uz
— Eli Hoff (@byEliHoff) March 13, 2025
Game Info
Missouri v Mississippi State
When | 6:00 p.m. CT
Where | Nashville, Tn.
TV | SEC Network
Radio | Tiger Radio Network // Sirius/XM -119/199
ESPN win probability | 50.6% chance
5 Fan Questions
- What is your prediction for the score of the game?
- The Tigers have failed to pick up a 2-0 over their three previous chances in the regular season, why do you think that is?
- Mark Mitchell has been dominant but it was Grill who led the way last time against the Bulldogs, do you peg him to score over 15 Points?
- If the Tigers can’t find it from three today, do you think they have any chance of winning?
- How deep do you think the Tigers will go in this tournament?