Missouri basketball: Tigers set free-throws record, but lose
Missouri basketball continued its hot shooting from the free-throw line, but the Tigers once again lose the game.
The Missouri basketball team will be in a lot of games given the advantage the Tigers give themselves at the free-throw line. But being in the game until the end and coming away with a win are two different things.
Mizzou lost to Texas A&M 66-64 on Tuesday at Mizzou Arena, three days after knocking down 31 of 31 free-throw attempts in a loss to Alabama. The Tigers, who fell to 9-9 (1-5 SEC) on the year, went 25 of 26 from the line on Tuesday, making 23 consecutive free throws in the game. The mark gave Mizzou 54 over a two-game span, which set an NCAA Division I record. The previous record was 50 made in that span by Wake Forest in 2005.
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Texas A&M now is 9-8 and 3-3 in the conference.
The same free-throw shooting that kept Mizzou in the game was on display in the final minute. Forward Mitchell Smith, who made five free throws in the game and hadn’t missed a free throw this season, had a chance to tie the game at 63 with 28 seconds left.
Smith went to the free-throw line and knocked down his first attempt to cut the A&M lead to one. But his second attempt failed, and the two-game streak ended and so did a chance at a tie.
The Aggies got the rebound and went to the line themselves, only to miss both attempts, giving the Tigers a chance to win the game this time. But a Dru Smith turnover on an offensive foul ended that opportunity, then after the Aggies knocked down two freebies, the score was 65-62.
Mark Smith’s 3-pointer then missed and Dru Smith was fouled on a rebound for two free shot attempts in the final 2 seconds. He made both and the lead was down to one point. A&M split free throws after that and won the game after a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from Torrence Watson was missed.
The Tigers were down 60-51 in the final two minutes of the game and were able to have a shot to win it in the end. That is encouraging. But it’s awful that it got to that point in a game Mizzou was favored to win by about eight points. The Tigers needed this one, particularly because it was at home.
Mizzou and A&M went back and forth in the first half and the score settled at 32-27 in favor of the Tigers. The Aggies took a three-point lead in the first four minutes of the half and stayed ahead the rest of the way.
The Tigers were led by Mark Smith, who had 19 points. Dru Smith added 18. Next up for the Tigers is a break in the SEC, and maybe that’s a good thing after they have lost three straight now.
Mizzou goes back on the road to play No. 14 West Virginia in the Big 12/SEC Challenge.