The Missouri Tigers made an emphatic statement with their impressive victory over the Mississippi State Bulldogs, showcasing their prowess in long-distance shooting. This SEC clash concluded with Missouri dominating the scoreline 88-61, thanks to a remarkable shooting display led by Caleb Grill.
Grill was the star of the show, netting 6 out of 11 from beyond the arc and amassing a total of 20 points. His stellar performance was complemented by teammates Tamar Bates, who contributed 14 points, and Josh Gray, who chipped in with 10 points. These efforts helped propel Missouri to a comfortable win, further solidifying their place in the current season's rankings.
The Tigers were relentless from three-point territory, successfully making 15 of their 32 attempts. Their long-range ability proved crucial in breaking their previous eight-game losing streak in road contests against Mississippi State, a notable hurdle that Missouri overcame with style.
For Mississippi State, Josh Hubbard stood out with 24 points, while KeShawn Murphy added strength to the team's efforts with 16 points and nine rebounds. Despite their performances, the Bulldogs struggled to keep pace with Missouri's energetic play and suffered consecutive losses in SEC competition for the second time this season.
Missouri’s dominance was evident from the first half, where they ended with a commanding 12-1 run, leading 45-31 at the break. The Tigers showed efficiency with a 52% shooting accuracy in the opening half and hit nine of their 19 three-point tries. Additionally, Missouri’s rebounding game was strong, outrebounding the Bulldogs 20-14, including securing seven offensive boards.
Overall, Missouri ended the game shooting 55% from the field and executed well from the foul line, making 7 out of 10 attempts. They maintained a solid rebounding advantage with 39 to Mississippi State's 31. The Bulldogs, on the other hand, faced challenges with a 36% shooting effort and managed to only make 8 of their 26 three-point shots.
The future looks promising for Missouri as they prepare to face Tennessee next Wednesday, seeking to keep up their momentum. Meanwhile, Mississippi State will aim to recover swiftly as they travel to Georgia for their upcoming SEC matchup on Saturday.
