Mizzou Tigers top Ole Miss for second win in a row
It’s been a while since the Mizzou Tigers have been on a win streak. This is a perfect time to put together those wins.
The Mizzou Tigers came into Tuesday’s game looking for their fourth win in a row at home, and one that would give the Tigers a win streak for the first time since December. They accomplished their goal.
Mizzou defeated Ole Miss 71-68 at Mizzou Arena to give the Tigers back-to-back wins. Mizzou (13-13, 5-8 SEC) beat No. 11 Auburn at Saturday, also at home. With the win, the Tigers move to 10th in the SEC standings, which would be good enough to keep them out of the first-round games of the SEC Tournament if the season ended today. Good thing it doesn’t, because the Tigers are looking like a team that could cause some damage down the stretch.
Guard Xavier Pinson has been on fire over the past month, and the Rebels (13-13, 4-9) couldn’t calm him down. Pinson scored a career-high 32 points to lead the Tigers. He was 4-for-4 from the 3-point line. Dru Smith countered Pinson’s game with 17 points, four assists and a pair of steals.
In Tuesday’s game, neither team led by more than 10 points. The tight contest came down to the final buzzer, as Ole Miss’ Breein Tyree missed an open 3-pointer with 5 seconds left. He couldn’t get a good good shot off after with his second try as Mizzou walked off winners.
The Tigers took a 55-45 advantage midway through the second half, but the Rebels went on a 13-1 run in just more than three minutes of basketball to take a 58-56 lead. But Mizzou didn’t allow the hiccup to bother it in the end.
Javon Pickett nailed a triple to take the lead with 6:31 to play, and the teams swapped scores until the final minute of the game.
Pinson’s four-consecutive freebies with less than a minute to play put Mizzou up four points. After a Rebels’ 3, Smith knocked down his two free throws, and the Tigers stayed ahead for the win. Pinson and Smith combined for 19 of 21 free throws made.
Next. Missouri Basketball: Studs and Duds vs Auburn. dark
The win was just Mizzou’s third ever against Ole Miss, which had won 11 of the past 12 games. Next up for the Tigers is a road game against Arkansas on Saturday.