Tamar Bates took center stage with an impressive 25-point performance, leading No. 21 Missouri to an 85-73 victory over Mississippi State on Thursday night, propelling the Tigers into the quarterfinals of the Southeastern Conference Tournament.
Tony Perkins contributed significantly, adding a season-high of 20 points for the seventh-seeded Missouri Tigers, who boast a 22-10 record. Their journey continues as they prepare to meet No. 4 Florida on Friday night in the Gators’ first tournament game.
Mississippi State, the No. 10 seed, was powered by Josh Hubbard’s 24 points, with Keshawn Murphy adding 18 to their score. The Bulldogs, ending their run at 21-12, witnessed Caleb Grill’s memorable moment with a 3-pointer that closed out the first half, putting Missouri ahead at 39-34.
The contest remained tightly contested, contrasting significantly with Missouri’s decisive 88-61 victory against Mississippi State during their regular-season clash in Starkville.
Mississippi State exits the tournament but holds a strong case for obtaining an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, an opportunity underscored by their performance despite this defeat.
For Missouri, the tournament opener was a test of endurance, with the Tigers needing to stave off Mississippi State’s persistence through much of the second half before sealing the game in the final minutes. Their next challenge, facing a formidable Florida team, promises to be more arduous.
The pivotal moment came when Grill executed a crucial dunk with just over four minutes left in the game, breaking the deadlock and giving Missouri a slight edge at 71-69. This dunk, along with his first-half buzzer-beater, marked Grill’s only points for the game.
A decisive factor in their victory was Missouri’s offensive prowess in the latter part of the game, successfully converting six of their last seven shots. In contrast, Mississippi State struggled, managing only one successful attempt in their closing nine shots.
Missouri now advances to face No. 4 Florida on Friday, while Mississippi State must wait patiently until Selection Sunday to discover their forthcoming opponent.
