Missouri Unable to Close Out Against South Carolina, Remains Winless in Conference Play
The Missouri Tigers 2023 season has followed nearly the same script in SEC play — always competitive enough to keep it close, but not enough to finish. Saturday against South Carolina was no different. The Tigers fell 64-72 to the Gamecocks, remaining winless through seven games of conference play.
Missouri has often fell behind in the middle minutes of the first half. Against Texas A&M on Tuesday, the Tigers were outscored 23-2 from the 13th to the 3rd minute of the first half. Against South Carolina, Missouri was shut down offensively and could not find a way to contain the Gamecocks’ diverse scoring attack. This led to Missouri being outscored 16-3 from minute 14 to 8. Following the drought, Missouri shifted to a 2-3 zone defense that effectively limited South Carolina’s inside attack but allowed openings outside the arc, where South Carolina landed three shots from in the half.
The Missouri offense was able to bring the Tigers back into striking distance in the final minutes of the first half, with a three-point make from Nick Honor bringing the Missouri deficit to four points with 2:51 remaining in the half. But the Tigers’ offense never found much of a flow or rhythm throughout the game. No Missouri player besides Sean East had a single assist in the half.
At the beginning of the second half, Missouri’s offense looked like a well-oiled machine, operating smoothly at a fast pace in transition. An 11-0 run in the first four minutes of the half gave Missouri its first lead since 18:39 remained in the first half.
South Carolina was quickly able to regain control of the game by way of continued success outside the arc. The disparity of three point success was evident as South Carolina shot 10-for-25 while Missouri only 2-for-8.
While Missouri was able to stay competitive in the final minutes, the South Carolina offense was a much more efficient product with multiple ways to score. South Carolina drove away commandingly in the final minutes.
Missouri will return home for their next game, hosting Arkansas at Mizzou Arena Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m.
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Pregame:
Missouri has announced that freshmen Trent Pierce and Anthony Robinson will miss today's game. Pierce is dealing with an illness and Robinson is missing due to family reasons.
Starting Fives
Missouri
Tamar Bates
Nick Honor
Sean East
Jordan Butler
Jesus Carralero Martin
South Carolina
Jacobi Wright
Meechie Johnson
Zachary Davis
Ta'lon Cooper
Colin Murray-Boyles
Second Half
:34 - South Carolina able to play keep away, Missouri fouls and Meechie Johnson makes both
:50 - Sean East makes a layup
1:02 - Missouri now trailing by eight
3:03 - Sean East with a beautiful transition pass to Bates who dunks it through. 5 point game
3:31 - Sean East makes two free throws, Missouri down by 7
3:39 - Zachary Davis makes a three to put Missouri down 9
6:28 - No flagrant, Cooper makes two free throw shots
6:29 - Officials currently reviewing for a possible flagrant on Sean East on Ta'lon Cooper
7:20 - Zachary Davis makes a three to bring South Carolina's lead to 7
8:23 - Each of the last 13 possessions have ended in either a turnover or a missed shot
12:00 - Missouri trailing 53-46 at media timeout
12:02 - South Carolina makes two consecutive three-point shots
13:52 - Connor Vannover fouled on the way up, makes both shots to tie it at 46
14:33 - Sean East dances in the paint to tie it at 44
16:51 - Tamar Bates scores in transition, Missouri has its first lead since 18:39 in the first half
17:12 - Nick Honor lands a three, Missouri down by one
17:32 - Sean East makes two free throws to bring Missouri within four again
19:37 - Missouri forces turnover and Jordan Butler takes it down for the first points of the half
First Half
End of half: Missouri 29, South Carolina 39
2:45 - Nick Honor takes a wide open look to land Missouri's first three-point make of the day
3:45 - Consecutive layups from Noah Carter has Missouri back in it. Trailing 30-21 at media timeout
6:15 - Impressive offensive series from Tamar Bates, scores on a jumper after he rebounds his missed shot
7:07 - South Carolina leads 26-14 at media timeout
7:40 - Missouri shifts to 2-3 zone defense, Morris Ugusuk able to score a layup on it
9:28 - South Carolina has gone on a 14-3 run. Leading 24-10
10:15 - B.J Mack is stretching the floor for USC right now. Two three-point makes already, 8 total points
11:42 - Missouri trailing 9-14 at the media timeout. The South Carolina offense can win in many different ways and are winning in transition
12:15 - Tamar Bates just had an incredible block on the glass after a fast break rush
13:50 - Missouri offense really seems to have no answer for the South Carolina defense
15:27 - Sean East hits a layup, brining Missouri's deficit to two at the media timeout
15:57 - South Carolina has scored eight unanswered points after Missouri jumped out to a 4-0 lead