Missouri launched a valiant comeback effort in the latter stages of Saturday night’s matchup against Ole Miss, but the first-half deficit proved insurmountable in an 84-78 loss at Mizzou Arena. Trailing by as many as 21 points toward the end of the opening half, the Tigers (8-21, 0-16 Southeastern Conference) rallied to cut the deficit to just two points in the final minute. However, their efforts fell short against the Rebels.
Photo Cred: The Clarion Ledger
Ole Miss seized control early in the contest with a 25-7 run throughout the first half, setting the tone for the game. Tj Caldwell initiated the surge with a fast break field goal off an assist from senior guard Allen Flanigan. Flanigan continued to spearhead the Rebels’ offensive charge, capitalizing on opportunities created by his teammates.
“We were impacted by Ole Miss’ defense,” remarked Missouri coach Dennis Gates. “Shots weren’t going in and that was largely credited to their defense.”
Despite the setback, Ole Miss Jaylen Murray delivered a notable performance, tallying 16 points, including four three-pointers. The Tigers staged a strong start to the second half, embarking on a 13-6 run to close the gap. The game’s intensity escalated in the closing minutes as Missouri mounted a 16-3 run to trim the deficit to one possession. However, a crucial layup by Ole Miss’ Jaemyn Brakefield secured the victory for the Rebels.
MU made things very interesting towards the end of the contest. Gates’ team went on a 16-3 run in a 4:33 time period to trim their deficit to one possession. OM guard Brandon Murray fouled out after picking up a foul against Shaw. Shaw made both shots from the charity stripe to make the score 73-69 with 2:16 left to play. East, who led Missouri in scoring with 27 points, made both free throws after getting fouled with 1:45 remaining to trim the Tigers’ deficit to 73-71. With under a minute to play, Brakefield delivered the biggest play of the season for Ole Miss who is fighting for an NCAA tournament appearance by finishing a layup to put them up 76-71.
Photo Cred: Mizzou
In the losing effort, Missouri showcased resilience and determination, drawing praise from Coach Gates for their second-half performance. Despite the defeat, Missouri’s Aidan Shaw and Sean East II each contributed 13 points, while Nick Honor added 12 points to the Tigers’ tally. With the regular season winding down, both teams look ahead to their next matchups, aiming to finish the season on a high note.
