Coming off a strong week, the No. 22 Missouri Tigers were ranked in the AP Poll for the first time since 2023. After an impressive road win at Florida and a big home victory over rival Arkansas, Mizzou entered Austin, Texas, with a 15-3 record to face a talented Texas team, despite the Longhorns' 1-4 conference record.
Heading into the game, Texas was among the best in the country at limiting turnovers, and that trend continued. The Longhorns committed just 10 turnovers in what turned out to be a low-scoring defensive battle. Offensively, the Tigers struggled to find a rhythm, scoring just 25 points in a lackluster first half. Despite no scorer contributing more than five points, Mizzou’s defense kept them within striking distance, trailing by only seven points at halftime.
The Tigers started the second half with a 7-2 run, trimming the Longhorns' lead to two points with more than 17 minutes remaining. The rest of the half was tightly contested, with Mizzou briefly holding a slim lead. However, Texas ultimately regained control. While no Longhorn player had a standout performance, Tamar Bates, Tony Perkins, and Trent Pierce each scored six points in another offensively challenging half.
The Tigers’ four-game win streak came to an end with a 61-53 loss to Texas. Despite the loss, Mizzou’s defensive intensity kept them competitive in a tough road matchup.
What looked good vs. Texas:
- Defensive effort looked strong all game
- Able to fight back in the second half and keep the game competitive
What looked bad vs. Texas:
- Half-court offense was terrible
- 33% FG for the game
- Texas was in control of the entire pace of the game
- 14 offensive rebounds
Coming off a tough loss, Missouri faced an even bigger challenge as the No. 16-ranked Ole Miss Rebels came to town for a top-25 showdown at Mizzou Arena. Ole Miss opened the game with an 8-0 run in the first two minutes, but the Tigers quickly responded with a 12-0 run of their own.
Tamar Bates was the standout early on, scoring 10 of the Tigers' 12 points during the run, including two 3-pointers. The game quickly began to take shape as a competitive battle. Caleb Grill also made his presence felt in the first half, hitting three 3-pointers and converting an "and-one" to bring his first-half total to 12 points. Mizzou carried a seven-point lead into the halftime locker room.
Grill and Bates continued their strong play into the second half. Grill added 13 points in what became a semi-eventful final period. Despite the Rebels keeping it close, the Tigers controlled the game and dictated the pace throughout. Bates capped off his impressive performance with a game-high 26 points, while the Tigers secured a statement win over No. 16 Ole Miss.
What looked good vs. Ole Miss:
- Three-point shooting (11/25)
- 39 free throw attempts
- The game was played at Mizzou’s pace
- Only allowed 5 offensive rebounds
What looked bad vs. Ole Miss:
- Anthony Robinson ended up in foul trouble with 5 second half fouls
- 16 turnovers
Takeaways from the week:
- Any SEC road game is going to be tough
- Despite the statement above, this team can compete with any team in the country
- Caleb Grill is one of the best sharpshooters in the entire country
- Free throws (or lack thereof) will both win and lose this Tiger team games at points during this season
Current Record: 16-4 (SEC: 5-2)
Next Week:
Saturday (2/1): at Mississippi State (Noon CST)