Following their loss to Auburn, Mizzou Basketball returned to Mizzou Arena for their first home game of the new year, hosting the LSU Tigers. Entering the game with an 11-0 home record but a 21-game SEC losing streak, one of those streaks was bound to end. Mizzou came out hot, jumping to a 20-9 lead by the 11-minute mark of the first half, thanks to Anthony Robinson II’s strong start, as he scored 8 of the Tigers’ first 20 points.
While Robinson and Tamar Bates led the offense early, Mizzou’s defense stole the show, forcing 10 LSU turnovers in the first half. The Tigers maintained control throughout, heading into halftime with a dominant 15-point lead.
This game exemplified Mizzou’s strengths: stifling defense and a fast-paced transition game that allows them to regularly score over 80 points per contest. Notably, it marked the first time this season they surpassed 80 points against a team ranked in the top 100 of the NET rankings.
Mizzou never allowed LSU to close the gap to fewer than 10 points in the second half, maintaining control and ultimately securing a 16-point victory. Bates led the way with a 20-point performance, helping Mizzou extend their home win streak to 12 games and, more significantly, snapping their 21-game SEC losing streak.
What looked good vs. LSU:
- Strong defense led to 14 LSU turnovers
- 21/27 from the free throw line
- 12/25 from the 3-point line
- In the 16 minutes Josh Gray played, he rebounded the ball very well and led the Tigers with 10 rebounds
What looked bad vs. LSU:
- At times, offensive spacing seems to be an issue when they play in the half-court
Riding the momentum of their big win on Tuesday, the Tigers faced an even tougher challenge on Saturday as a red-hot Vanderbilt team rolled into Mizzou Arena. Statistically, Missouri and Vanderbilt are evenly matched, with both teams excelling in scoring and forcing turnovers. This game lived up to that billing, with both teams committing 14 turnovers.
For Mizzou, many of their second-half turnovers were uncharacteristic and came as a result of Vanderbilt’s aggressive full-court press. Additionally, the Tigers' offense stagnated at times, struggling to generate quality shots. Despite these challenges, Anthony Robinson II delivered an outstanding performance, going a perfect 4-of-4 from the field and finishing with 15 points.
Caleb Grill also stepped up in crucial moments, contributing 13 points, including 11 in the second half when the Tigers desperately needed to stop Vanderbilt’s momentum. Meanwhile, Mark Mitchell continued his strong play, leading the team with 19 points. His late-game heroics included a key and-1 that effectively sealed Mizzou’s hard-fought 75-66 victory.
The win highlighted the Tigers' ability to overcome adversity and secure their 13th victory of the season, remaining unbeaten at home.
What looked good vs. Vanderbilt:
- Able to pull out a win in a close game
- 10/24 on 3-point shots (41.7%)
- They started off the game hot and built a healthy lead within the first 10 minutes
- Forced 14 turnovers
What looked bad vs. Vanderbilt:
- Free throw shooting (17/25)
- Despite being in control the whole game, the game nearly slipped away from Mizzou when they saw full-court pressure
Takeaways from the week:
- This team can easily compete in a loaded SEC
- This team must win home games, and that was accomplished twice over the week.
- Free throw shooting is too inconsistent for this team and there is a good chance it loses them games down the road.
Current Record: 13-3 (SEC: 2-1)
Next Week:
Tuesday (1/14): Away at Florida (8 pm CST)
Saturday (1/18): Home vs. Arkansas (5 pm CST)