Mizzou guard Tamar Bates goes for a reverse layup during his team’s win over LSU, Tuesday night at Mizzou Arena. (Photo: Thomas Grove)
| NCAA Men’s Basketball | 1 | 2 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|
| LSU (11-4, 0-2) | 27 | 40 | 67 |
| Missouri (12-3,1-1) | 42 | 41 | 83 |
Terrance Williams
Staff Writer
COLUMBIA, MO — It had been nearly two years since the last time the University of Missouri men’s basketball team had won a Southeastern Conference game.
That win was in the 2023 SEC Tournament, when Missouri knocked off Tennessee. The next day, Mizzou lost to Alabama, and since then the Tigers had lost every other SEC game they had played.
Until Tuesday night, when Missouri dominated LSU start to finish, to earn an impressive 83-67 win at Mizzou Arena. The Tigers had lost 21 straight conference games. But that streak is no more.
“Simply put, yes,” Mizzou guard Tamar Bates said, when asked if there was extra meaning to Tuesday’s win. “Y’all was here. It definitely meant a lot.”
The Tigers were given a tough task to open conference play last Saturday, ultimately falling to No. 2 Auburn 84-68, but the losses ended there with LSU entering Mizzou Arena.
Mizzou coasted into halftime with a 42-27 lead, led by sophomore Anthony Robinson’s 12 points in the first half. Robinson finished with 16 points in 31 minutes, his most since he posted a career-high 29 points against California on December 3.
“(Robinson) got out to a great start,” Mizzou head coach Dennis Gates said. “We need him to provide that kind of energy and leadership all the time. ‘Ant’ was great tonight.”
Mizzou’s Anthony Robinson II blocks a shot during Tuesday’s SEC win over LSU at Mizzou Arena. (Photo: Thomas Grove)
Robinson also seemed proud of his performance.
“Every game, I’m coming to bring the energy,” Robinson added. “Just coming out, having a great (team) start was key to this win.”
Bates led all players on Tuesday, posting 20 points on 6-of-9 shooting with eight rebounds. Marques Warrick and Mark Mitchell also scored in double-digits, with 12 and 11 points, respectively.
Josh Gray was another contributor for the Tigers, despite not seeing a shot fall through the net, as he recorded 10 rebounds. Gates highlighted Gray’s contributions postgame, and also praised Bates for his emphasis on rebounding.
From start to finish, it was a dominant performance. Mizzou only trailed in the opening minute. The MU Tigers got on the board quickly with a jumper from Bates.
From there, Mizzou led by as many as 21 points. LSU inched closer in the second half, but never got closer than 13 points.
“We were able to get to the free throw line (21-for-27), being able to shoot 12-for-25 from 3 is a great stat to have,” Gates said. “But defensively, that’s what I’m proud of. Our guys defended. They communicated. Their energy was available tonight.”
LSU was led by top scorer Cam Carter, who was averaging 17.3 points prior to Tuesday. Carter totaled 16 points (5-of-15 shooting) as LSU shot 42.6% from the field.
“It definitely feels good to get a win in SEC (play),” Robinson said, “and we’re looking forward to the next challenge.”
LSU 67
| ## | Player | GS | MIN | FG | 3PT | FT | ORB-DRB | REB | PF | A | TO | BLK | STL | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05 | Carter,Cam | * | 38 | 5-15 | 1-5 | 5-5 | 0-3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 16 |
| 04 | Bailey,Dji | * | 38 | 5-8 | 1-2 | 0-1 | 0-3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 11 |
| 10 | Collins,Daimion | * | 26 | 4-6 | 1-1 | 2-3 | 3-2 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 11 |
| 11 | Chest,Corey | * | 18 | 2-2 | 0-0 | 3-4 | 1-1 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 |
| 01 | Sears,Jordan | * | 10 | 1-3 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 0-3 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 03 | Givens III,Curtis | 31 | 5-13 | 3-8 | 2-4 | 1-0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 15 | |
| 00 | Miller,Vyctorius | 20 | 1-3 | 1-1 | 1-2 | 1-2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | |
| 20 | Fountain,Derek | 13 | 0-3 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-7 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 06 | Miller III,Robert | 4 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 02 | Williams III,Mike | 2 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| TM | TEAM | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 2-0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Totals | – | 200 | 23-54 | 8-20 | 13-19 | 8-21 | 29 | 23 | 12 | 14 | 3 | 6 | 67 |
Missouri 83
| ## | Player | GS | MIN | FG | 3PT | FT | ORB-DRB | REB | PF | A | TO | BLK | STL | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02 | Bates, Tamar | * | 31 | 6-9 | 2-3 | 6-6 | 1-7 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 20 |
| 00 | Robinson II, Anthony | * | 32 | 3-9 | 2-4 | 8-8 | 1-3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 16 |
| 25 | Mitchell, Mark | * | 30 | 4-6 | 1-1 | 2-4 | 0-3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 11 |
| 11 | Pierce, Trent | * | 20 | 2-5 | 1-4 | 2-3 | 1-2 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7 |
| 12 | Perkins, Tony | * | 18 | 1-5 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| 01 | Warrick, Marques | 21 | 4-10 | 2-5 | 2-2 | 1-0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 12 | |
| 31 | Grill, Caleb | 17 | 3-5 | 3-5 | 1-2 | 0-2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | |
| 23 | Shaw, Aidan | 6 | 2-2 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 2-0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | |
| 33 | Gray, Josh | 16 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-2 | 2-8 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 35 | Crews, Jacob | 5 | 0-2 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 1-0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 04 | Allen, Marcus | 4 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| TM | TEAM | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 2-0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Totals | – | 200 | 25-54 | 12-25 | 21-27 | 11-26 | 37 | 18 | 16 | 11 | 1 | 10 | 83 |
2024-25 Missouri Tigers Men’s Basketball Schedule
| Date | Time | At | Opponent | Location | TV/Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 4, 2024 (Monday) | 7 p.m. | Away | Memphis | Memphis, Tenn. | L 83-75 (0-1) |
| November 8, 2024 (Friday) | 7 p.m. | Home | Howard | Mizzou Arena | W 77-62 (1-1) |
| November 11, 2024 (Monday) | 6 p.m. | Home | Eastern Washington | Mizzou Arena | W 84-77 (2-1) |
| November 14, 2024 (Thursday) | 6:30 p.m. | Home | Mississippi Valley State | Mizzou Arena | W 111-39 (3-1) |
| November 22, 2024 (Friday) | 6:30 p.m. | Home | Pacific | Mizzou Arena | W 91-56 (4-1) |
| November 24, 2024 (Sunday) | 4 p.m. | Home | Arkansas – Pine Bluff | Mizzou Arena | W 112-63 (5-1) |
| November 27, 2024 (Wednesday) | 5:30 p.m. | Home | Lindenwood | Mizzou Arena | W 81-61 (6-1) |
| December 3, 2024 (Tuesday) | 6 p.m. | Home | California | Mizzou Arena | W 98-93 (7-1) |
| December 8, 2024 (Sunday) | Noon | Home | Kansas | Mizzou Arena | W 76-67 (8-1) |
| December 14, 2024 (Saturday) | 11 a.m. | Home | Long Island | Mizzou Arena | W 88-61 (9-1) |
| December 17, 2024 (Tuesday) | 6:30 p.m. | Home | Jacksonville State | Mizzou Arena | W 83-72 (10-1) |
| December 22, 2024 (Sunday) | Noon | Neutral | Illinois | St. Louis, Mo. / Enterprise Center | L 80-77 (10-2) |
| December 30, 2024 (Monday) | 6:30 p.m. | Alabama State | Mizzou Arena | Mizzou Arena | W 82-65 (11-2) |
| January 4, 2025 (Saturday) | 3 p.m. | Away | Auburn | Auburn, Ala. | L 84-68 (11-3) |
| January 7, 2025 (Tuesday) | 8 p.m. | Home | LSU | Mizzou Arena | W 83-67 (12-3) |
| January 11, 2025 (Saturday) | 2:30 p.m. | Home | Vanderbilt | Mizzou Arena |  |
| January 14, 2025 (Tuesday) | 8 p.m. | Away | Florida | Gainesville, Fla. |  |
| January 18, 2025 (Saturday) | 5 p.m. | Home | Arkansas | Mizzou Arena | |
| January 21, 2025 (Tuesday) | 8 p.m. | Away | Texas | Austin, Texas | |
| January 25, 2025 (Saturday) | 5 p.m. | Home | Ole Miss | Mizzou Arena | |
| February 1, 2025 (Saturday) | Noon | Away | Mississippi State | Starkville, Miss. | |
| February 5, 2025 (Wednesday) | 6 p.m. | Away | Tennessee | Knoxville, Tenn. | |
| February 8, 2025 (Saturday) | 2:30 p.m. | Home | Texas A&M | Mizzou Arena | |
| February 12, 2025 (Wednesday) | 8 p.m. | Home | Oklahoma | Mizzou Arena | |
| February 15, 2025 (Saturday) | 2:30 p.m. | Away | Georgia | Athens, Ga. | |
| February 19, 2025 (Wednesday) | 8 p.m. | Home | Alabama | Mizzou Arena | |
| February 22, 2025 (Saturday) | 7 p.m. | Away | Arkansas | Fayetteville, Ark. | ESPN or ESPN2 |
| February 25, 2025 (Tuesday) | 8 p.m. | Home | South Carolina | Mizzou Arena | ESPN2 or ESPNU |
| March 1, 2025 (Saturday) | 5 p.m. | Away | Vanderbilt | Nashville, Tenn. | |
| March 5, 2025 (Wednesday) | 7 p.m. | Away | Oklahoma | Norman, Okla. |  |
| March 8, 2025 (Saturday) | 11 a.m. | Home | Kentucky | Mizzou Arena | ESPN or SECN |
| March 12-16, 2025 | TBD | Neutral | SEC Tournament | Nashville, Tenn. / Bridgestone Arena | SECN or ESPN |