Kobe Brown drilled a go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:26 remaining in overtime and finished with a team-high 24 points to lift Missouri to an 80-75 victory against Southern Methodist on Sunday night in the first round of the Jacksonville Classic.
Missouri (3-1) advanced to face Florida State, which topped Loyola Marymount 73-45, in Monday’s tournament championship. SMU (3-2) will meet Loyola Marymount in a consolation game Monday.
SMU’s Kendric Davis led all scorers with 29 points on 10-of-15 shooting, including a trey with 15 seconds left in OT to cut the deficit to 75-72. Missouri’s Ronnie DeGray followed with a three-point play to give the Tigers breathing room, but Davis hit another three with five seconds left.
Amari Davis hit two free throws, part of a 7-for-7 effort from the line, to finish with 14 points and provide the final margin.
DaJuan Gordon had 14 points and a team-best eight rebounds for the Tigers, while DeGray scored 18 points.
Marcus Weathers had 13 points for the Mustangs. Isiah Jasey and Michael Weathers both had five rebounds.
Gordon completed a three-point play with 30.7 seconds to go in regulation to tie the game at 62-all. The Mustangs had a chance to win the game on their final possession, but Michael Weathers was called for a charge, fouling out of the game.
After trailing by as many as 13 points early in the second half, the Tigers whittled the deficit to seven points with 9:55 to go. The Mustangs regained control, however, as Missouri went scoreless over the next 2:28.
DeGray made a 3 to draw the Tigers within four points with 4:51 to go, but SMU responded with a Davis trey the next time down the floor.
Missouri slumped to 7-for-33 percent shooting in the first half while committing 10 turnovers. After a Brown layup put the Tigers ahead 18-11 with 7:19 remaining in the first half, the Mustangs ended the half on an 18-0 tear.
Emmanuel Bandoumel drilled a 3-pointer at the buzzer to extend the SMU advantage to 29-18.
–Field Level Media
