Mizzou basketball struggles offensively picking up first loss of season

SALT LAKE CITY – Not having Michael Porter Jr. showed for Mizzou as the Tigers lost 77-59 to Utah.

With the loss, Mizzou falls to 2-1 (0-0 SEC). The Tigers have now lost 36 straight road games.

Porter Jr. did not play due to a leg injury after sitting out Mizzou’s game Monday, Nov. 13 against Wagner. The team said it will reevaluate Porter’s injury again next week. Blake Harris played after suffering a leg injury against Wagner. He left with trainers in the second half after getting hit in the face near the basket.

Mizzou struggled offensively as the Tigers shot 35 percent and were just 5 of 27 from three. Kevin Puryear, Kassius Robertson and Jordan Barnett combined to shoot 0-13 in the first half. Mizzou made just 7 percent from three in the first half while shooting 20 percent from the field.

Mizzou’s turnover struggles from the first two games continued as the Tigers turned the ball over 14 times. Jeremiah Tilmon fouled out for the second straight game with five fouls in just six minutes.

While Utah struggled shooting to start as the two teams combined to shoot 1-21 from three early in the first half, Utah returned to form. The Tigers trailed by 16 at half and could not recover.

Mizzou looks to get back on track against Emporia State Monday, Nov. 20 at 7 p.m. at Mizzou Arena.