As the 2024-25 NCAA season progresses, schedules become tougher and competition intensifies. With that, each loss carries greater significance, especially for a team like Mizzou, which is striving to prove it deserves a spot in the NCAA Tournament this March.
Though the Tigers have performed exceptionally well early in the season, the games that matter most are those against ranked opponents and within their conference.
This game showcased a team embodying both of those challenges: the No. 2 ranked Auburn Tigers, who now sit at 1-0 in conference play, leading the SEC.
If Mizzou was serious about winning this game, they needed to focus on neutralizing Auburn’s primary threat: top NBA prospect Johni Broome. As one of the best overall players in college basketball this season, Broome posed the biggest challenge for the Tigers.
To put it simply, the defense on Broome was lacking.
Broome dominated the first half, averaging a point per minute, rebounding effectively, recording multiple blocks, and avoiding turnovers or personal fouls. In short, it was the exact opposite of what Mizzou needed to contain him.
What contributed most to the loss wasn’t the defense on Broome, but rather Mizzou’s poor shooting on offense.
It’s especially disappointing to see a performance like this, where the Tigers struggled with shooting across the board, given how much they’ve improved offensively compared to last season.
Mizzou experienced multiple scoring droughts in the first half. At one point, the Tigers went over three minutes without a basket. Later in the half, they endured a stretch of shooting just 1-of-7 from the field.
Obviously, neither of those scoring droughts is ideal against any opponent, let alone a top-ranked rival like Auburn.
Those struggles, combined with other factors, resulted in Mizzou trailing by more than ten points for the majority of the first half. Despite some late buckets by the Tigers, Auburn headed into the locker room with a 45-33 lead at the break.
Halftime pic.twitter.com/bru2g7h5YL
— Mizzou Hoops (@MizzouHoops) January 4, 2025
Only two Tigers had efficient first halves: Trent Pierce and Tony Perkins.
Pierce contributed 6 points, going a perfect 2-for-2 from the field and hitting his only three-point attempt. Perkins added 4 points on 2-of-3 shooting.
Though both were efficient, neither had a significant impact or did enough to keep Mizzou competitive in the game.
Mizzou’s top scorers, Caleb Grill and Anthony Robinson II, were held scoreless in the first half, attempting just one shot combined. For players who have been key contributors all season, their lack of opportunities doesn’t bode well for staying competitive against a top-tier team like Auburn.
The Tigers shot 42% from the field overall—not terrible, but far from sufficient when facing an opponent shooting an impressive 58%.
Adding to the struggles, the Tigers shot just 20% from beyond the arc, hitting only 2-of-10 attempts. Senior Tamar Bates went 0-for-4 from three-point range in the first half, significantly contributing to their low percentage and the deficit they faced.
Mizzou outperformed Auburn at the free-throw line, shooting 75% (9-of-12) compared to Auburn's 71% (10-of-14). While Auburn had more attempts, their lack of efficiency kept the gap closer in that category during the first 20 minutes of play.
Unfortunately for the heavy underdog, this game did not turn into a "tale of two halves." Mizzou's poor shooting performance persisted, allowing the lead for the home team to grow even larger in the second half.
The Tigers' struggles from three-point range worsened early in the second half, as they missed their first four attempts. Additionally, their overall field goal percentage dropped to 35%, while Auburn's surged to 59% in the first eight minutes of the half.
The Tigers' struggles extended to the free-throw line, missing their first two attempts of the second half. After scoring a respectable 33 points in the first half, Mizzou managed just 5 points in the opening nine minutes of the second, highlighting their offensive woes across the board.
That stretch allowed Auburn to extend their lead to 23 points, the largest of the game at that point. The gap would eventually grow to as much as 26 later in the half.
The Tigers ended the game much like they played throughout the afternoon: with poor shooting and struggles across the board. They fell to Auburn with a final score of 84-68, finishing the game shooting 38% from the field, including a dismal 30% from beyond the arc.
This loss stings as much as any other, but the defining story of Mizzou’s season has been their ability to bounce back. After each loss, they’ve responded with significant wins. The Tigers will undoubtedly return to the drawing board, aiming to regroup and respond strongly once again.
Gates's team will aim to bounce back from their third loss of the season on Tuesday night when they return home to host LSU.