Missouri basketball cruises past Southern Illinois behind guard Smith
Missouri basketball rarely trailed as the Tigers took care of business in nonconference win.
The Missouri basketball team is on a winning streak after it knocked off Southern Illinois 64-48 on Sunday at Mizzou Arena.
Mizzou’s victory gives the team a 6-4 record at the 10-game mark with a Saturday meeting against Illinois in St. Louis looming. Before Saturday’s Braggin’ Rights Game, the Tigers had a different Illinois opponent in front of them. They handled Southern Illinois with ease.
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Mark Smith led the Tigers with 23 points, shooting 8 of 11 from the field. In dominating fashion, the junior guard and former Illinois star knocked down seven 3-pointers on nine attempts for an impressive 77 percent rate. That was quite helpful as the rest of the Tigers squad continued to struggle from deep. Missouri basketball made just one other 3-pointer, a basket from Xavier Pinson.
The defense was the big difference in Sunday’s contest. Southern Illinois got off just 34 shot attempts, and the Tigers only allowed 10 made baskets in the game. Most of the Salukis’ points came from the free-throw line, where they knocked down 23 of 26 attempts.
Sunday’s game was tied at 9 near the 11-minute mark when Smith hit his first triple of the night. He broke the game open with four-consecutive made 3-pointers after that. He knocked his first final triple just under the 9-minute mark that sparked a Mizzou 21-9 lead. In just two-and-a-half minutes, the former Illinois prep start took the game over.
Despite the usual slow start that has hindered the Tigers this year, Mizzou now has won two games in a row where points were at a premium to begin the game. The Tigers will want to start faster against tougher competition, beginning Saturday against Illinois.
Mizzou will take on Illinois on Saturday before a meeting against Chicago State closes out the 2019 part of the schedule. After that, SEC play begins for the Tigers.