After a two-loss week to Tennessee and Texas A&M, the Missouri Tigers hosted the Oklahoma Sooners in a must-win game for both teams as March nears. Mark Mitchell led the charge for the Tigers, scoring 19 points in the first half en route to a career-high 25-point performance. The Sooners’ frequent defensive switches created mismatches, and Mitchell took full advantage. The Tigers held a commanding 20-point lead at halftime.
The second half never got close, as Mizzou maintained a comfortable lead throughout, sealing an 82-58 win. Tony Perkins and Caleb Grill played key roles in the second half. Perkins was perfect from the field, scoring 10 points in the half, while Grill hit two consecutive threes, forcing a Sooner timeout that energized Mizzou Arena.
Anthony Robinson II, who had been struggling offensively with an average of just 4.7 points over the last six games, contributed 10 points in the victory, along with his usual strong defense. Mizzou ended its two-game losing streak with the win.
What looked good vs. Oklahoma:
- Shot 35 FTs and converted on 26 of them
- Defense looked tremendous all night and gave Oklahoma a lot of issues offensively
- To the point above, 12 steals and 17 turnovers forced
- Offense was able to prevail even if top scorer (Tamar Bates) doesn’t add much to offensive effort
What looked bad vs. Oklahoma:
- Offense was sloppy in the first half, turning the ball over 8 times in the first half
- 3 point shooting was never established (4/12 from 3PT)
Following their home victory, the Tigers traveled to Athens, Georgia, to face the Georgia Bulldogs. Georgia, winners of 13 of its last 15 games at Stegeman Coliseum, seemed poised to make this a tough contest for Mizzou. And for much of the first half, it was. Tamar Bates led the Tigers with 9 points in the opening half as Mizzou trailed by 3. Asa Newell was perfect for the Bulldogs, shooting 5-for-5 from the field, and the Tigers struggled to contain his presence inside.
With the halftime deficit, Mizzou turned to its point guard for a spark. Anthony Robinson II, widely regarded as one of the top defenders in the SEC, showcased his offensive game against Georgia. Robinson scored 13 points in the second half, helping the Tigers pull away. Mark Mitchell also stepped up, adding 12 points in the second half. Robinson and Mitchell combined for 25 of Mizzou’s 49 second-half points as the Tigers took control and secured a crucial win with Alabama coming to Columbia on Wednesday. Mizzou finished off the week with an 87-74 victory over the Bulldogs.
What looked good vs. Georgia:
- Almost all aspects of the second half was perfect
- Just 3 turnovers for the entire game (2 of them were shot clock violations)
- Shot 86% from the free throw line
- 17 offensive rebounds
What looked bad vs. Georgia:
- In the first half, shots struggled to fall
- Defense had a hard time stopping Asa Newell as he finished with 23 points
Takeaways from the week:
- All around great week from the Tigers
- Mizzou’s depth is able to give teams issues when it comes to game-planning and that has been apparent.
- When Anthony Robinson is a factor offensively, this team is very dangerous
- Tony Perkins has found his role on this team and he has produced at a very high level over the past 2 games.
Current Record: 19-6 (SEC: 8-4)
Next Week:
Tuesday (2/19): home vs. Alabama (8 pm CST)
Saturday (2/22): away at Arkansas (2:30 pm CST)