In the first week of conference play, Missouri faced setbacks against Georgia and No. 6 Kentucky, making it a challenging start for the Tigers. The biggest issue for Missouri has been their defensive performance, as they’ve allowed an average of 82.5 points per game in the two matchups.
75-68 Loss vs Georgia
MU’s SEC opener against Georgia saw them struggle to contain their opponents on Saturday. The Bulldogs shot 48% from the field, giving Missouri a loss in front of the home crowd at Mizzou Arena.
UGA knocked down 12 buckets from beyond the arc, eight of which came in the first half. Mike White’s team made seven of their first 10 three-point attempts last weekend. Senior guard Justin Hill led the Bulldogs with four three-pointers, while guards Noah Thomasson and Jabri Abdur-Rahim contributed with three each.
Dennis Gates’ team gave up 22 points in the paint against UGA. Georgia center Russel Tchewa was the team’s leading scorer with 18 points. Thomasson made a layup with just over nine minutes remaining, while Hill got his own layup with 7:44 remaining to extend the Bulldogs’ lead to 63-59.
Photo Cred: Georgia Bulldogs
Despite a close contest, Missouri couldn’t stop UGA in the final minutes, giving up two crucial three-pointers that led to their defeat. Tchewa set up Hill for a three-pointer to give Georgia a 66-65 lead with 4:19 to go. Later, with 3:32 remaining, freshman guard Silas Demary Jr. nailed his shot from beyond the arc, extending the Bulldogs’ lead to 69-65.
Georgia took advantage of six more free-throw attempts for the rest of the game. The Tigers faced their sixth loss of the season in the SEC opener.
Photo Cred: Kansas City Star
90-77 loss at Kentucky
MU continued to face defensive challenges in their matchup against Kentucky, falling to 8-7 on the season and 0-2 in the SEC on Tuesday. The Wildcats shot an impressive 50% from the field, putting pressure on Missouri from the get-go.
Senior forward Tre Mitchell made two three-pointers in the first minute. Freshman guard D.J. Wagner scored a layup a couple of possessions later. Less than three minutes into the game, Mitchell scored his eighth point with a jumper, tying the game at 10.
Five players on the UK side finished in double digits. Rob Dillingham came off the bench and led all scorers with 23 points, showcasing the Wildcats’ depth. Mitchell and Wagner finished with 20 and 16 points, respectively, with the senior forward recording 10 in each half. Additionally, Antonio Reeves had 14, and Aaron Bradshaw finished with 10.
Photo Cred: Kentucky.com
The Tigers gave up seven three-pointers during Tuesday’s matchup. Dillingham knocked down a 3 on all three of his attempts beyond the arc. Mitchell finished with two, while Wagner and Reed Sheppard each had one.
Kentucky, which featured a guard-heavy team, outscored MU in the paint. They scored 28 points down low compared to Missouri’s 24. Wagner scored three times in the paint, all in the first half. Reeves dunked the ball on a baseline drive, pushing the Wildcats’ lead to 75-66 with 7:48 remaining. 26 seconds later, Mitchell assisted Bradshaw for a dunk.
Photo Cred: The Joplin Globe
