Missouri men’s basketball opened its 2024-25 season with an opening-night 83-75 loss at Memphis on Monday.
For the black-and-gold Tigers, it was deja vu as they experienced another blown second-half lead to the blue-and-black Tigers.
Mizzou got off to a hot start, at one point leading by 14 in the first half. That lead was largely due to a strong first half from sophomore forward Trent Pierce, who scored 10 points in the opening period.
Aidan Shaw also made meaningful contributions in the first half, not only getting the job done offensively but, more importantly, on the defensive end.
In the first half, Mizzou played an eight-man rotation and maintained full control for much of the period.
The second half is where things got sloppy for Mizzou, with Memphis seizing all the momentum early on. Both teams got into foul trouble, which ultimately played a significant role in the game’s outcome.
Mizzou was outscored 51-33 in the second half, with both teams emerging from the locker room looking completely different.
For Memphis, PJ Haggerty took over the game, scoring 25 points and seemingly doing whatever he wanted on offense.
Memphis went on multiple scoring runs, and when it seemed like Mizzou could have benefited from a timeout, none was called. The energy in FedEx Forum shifted, and once Memphis gained momentum, they never looked back.
Anthony Robinson was a bright spot for Mizzou, making contributions both offensively and defensively. The sophomore guard finished the game with 16 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals.
One of the major reasons for Mizzou's downfall came at the free-throw line. The black-and-gold Tigers struggled at the charity stripe, finishing a disappointing 13-for-21. Leaving those points on the board ultimately cost Mizzou a potential victory.
Another struggle for Mizzou came in the turnover battle. After a strong first half with only three turnovers, Mizzou committed 11 turnovers in the second half.
Mizzou will be back in action Friday night when it hosts Howard at 7 p.m. in a game where it will look to bounce back.