Tuesday night was a statement victory for head coach Dennis Gates and his deep Mizzou team. The Tigers dominated LSU from the opening tip, trailing for less than a minute throughout the entire game.
With the win, the Tigers improve to 12-3 overall and even their conference record at 1-1. While it’s still early in SEC play, this performance was the exact response fans and staff were hoping for after a lopsided loss to No. 2 Auburn.
The key to this game was Mizzou's defensive effort, particularly against star player Cam Carter. As highlighted in the preview, Carter's court presence is undeniable, but when his shots aren’t falling and his team falls behind, he tends to force ill-advised attempts, which disrupts his offensive rhythm.
While the Tigers' offense was solid, surpassing 80 points and featuring five players in double figures, their victory was largely driven by an exceptional defensive effort against Carter and the rest of LSU's roster.
LSU struggled to find any offensive rhythm, constantly forced into tough situations by Mizzou's stifling defense. The Bayou Bengals managed to shoot just 9-for-24 from the field in the first half and attempted only eight 3-pointers during that stretch.
LSU closed the first half with more turnovers than made shots, an impressive accomplishment by Mizzou's defense.
Though LSU hit half of their 3-point attempts in the first 20 minutes, Mizzou's perimeter defense remained strong. This was particularly notable against a team that had been averaging over 25 three-point attempts per game through its first 14 contests.
Carter was essentially neutralized in the first half, with several teammates outscoring him despite his taking at least three more shot attempts than anyone else. He went 1-for-7 from the field, including 0-for-2 from beyond the arc, finishing the half with just four points and three turnovers while playing all but two minutes.
Additionally, freshman big man Corey Chest, who entered the game averaging nearly seven rebounds per contest, was held to just one in the first half. Mizzou's relentless defense stifled LSU’s top players, preventing them from executing their offensive game plan throughout the contest.
Mizzou entered halftime with a 15-point lead and had no trouble extending it in the second half, maintaining control throughout the game.
The second half was a continuation of Mizzou's dominant first-half performance. Head coach Dennis Gates clearly approved of his team’s approach and encouraged them to maintain their intensity on both ends of the floor.
LSU head coach Matt McMahon struggled to find an answer to Mizzou's relentless defense, and the home team capitalized on that weakness throughout the second half.
Can't sleep on @tbates_11 ‼️#MIZ 🐯 pic.twitter.com/UefeURBIwo
— Mizzou Hoops (@MizzouHoops) January 8, 2025
The lead continued to expand toward 20 points as Carter, Chest, and the rest of LSU's key players struggled to execute offensively. Mizzou's advantage peaked at 21 with just over three minutes remaining in the game.
Carter continued to struggle offensively, attempting to shoot his way out of the slump. While he managed to hit a few late shots, including his only 3-pointer on five attempts, it was too little, too late.
Carter finished with a respectable stat line of 16 points, three rebounds, and two steals, avoiding any turnovers in the second half while playing the entire period. However, he shot just 5-for-15 from the field and recorded the lowest plus/minus on the team at -14.
Chest managed just one rebound in the second half, marking a season low for the freshman. While standout defenders like Anthony Robinson II and Tamar Bates will rightfully earn much of the credit for Mizzou’s defensive dominance, the contributions of big men Josh Gray and Aidan Shaw were equally crucial. Their defense and ability to box out consistently limited LSU’s opportunities throughout the game.
Historically, Mizzou has struggled against teams of this caliber, but a commanding win like this—particularly as a response to a tough loss just three days earlier—is an encouraging sign for a team looking to take a big step forward this season.
The Tigers will remain at home to take on another challenging conference opponent, Vanderbilt, on Saturday afternoon.