Javon Pickett and Ronnie DeGray III each scored 14 points to lead host Missouri to a 74-68 victory over Ole Miss in a Southeastern Conference game on Saturday in Columbia, Mo.
Kobe Brown had 13 points on 5-for-6 shooting to go with six rebounds and a game-high five assists for the Tigers (10-14, 4-7 SEC). Missouri used a 21-2 run during a span of seven minutes and eight seconds that bridged the two halves against the Rebels (12-13, 3-9).
Amari Davis and DaJuan Gordon also chipped in 13 for Missouri, which led by as many as 20 points in the second half en route to their second win in their past three games.
Luis Rodriguez had a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds for Ole Miss, which dropped its third straight game. Matthew Murrell scored a team-high 15 points and Jarkel Joiner added 13 for the Rebels, which shot 50 percent (27-for-54) from the field, but an abysmal 22.2 percent (4-for-18) from beyond the arc.
However, the Rebels committed 12 turnovers that the Tigers converted into 20 points.
The Tigers had one of the best offensive performances of the season by shooting 53.8 percent (28-for-52) from the field, including an impressive 50 percent (7-for-14) from 3-point range. Missouri outrebounded Ole Miss 32-27.
After Missouri closed the first half on a 12-2 run to take a 43-32 lead at intermission, the Tigers took over where they left off to open the second half. Missouri scored the first nine points to take a 52-32 advantage following Trevon Brazile’s free throw with 16:59 left in the game.
Ole Miss pulled to within 69-64 with 1:30 left, but failed to score on their next possession, enabling Davis to extend the lead to 70-64 with 20 seconds remaining.
After Ole Miss took a 22-21 lead following Murrell’s layup with 8:46 left in the first half, Missouri took over the game. The Tigers hit four 3-pointers, including three by Gordon, during a 22-10 run to end the half and take a 43-32 lead at intermission.
–Field Level Media
