Mizzou falls to Georgia in Porter Jr.’s return

With seven seconds left on the clock and Mizzou down two, Jordan Geist looked toward Michael Porter Jr. on his right but dribbled to his left and passed to Kassius Robertson beyond the three-point arc. Robertson had a good look and let the shot go as thousands all held their breath. The shot bounced off the rim and fell out as the partisan crowd gasped.

Georgia upset Mizzou 62-60, eliminating the Tigers from the SEC tournament. MU now awaits Selection Sunday on March 11.

Michael Porter Jr. finished with 12 points and 8 rebounds in 23 minutes of action. While Porter shot a low percentage, Mizzou outscored Georgia while he was on the floor and got outscored when he was off it. His younger brother Jontay Porter had a team-high 20 points and eight rebounds.Georgia held Kassius Robertson and Jordan Barnett quiet all game. The two combined for just 10 points and shot 4 for 18 in the game.

Mizzou held Yante Maten to just nine points in the first meeting between the two schools. However, Maten dominated in the SEC tournament leading all players with 21 points and 10 rebounds.

Kevin Puryear and Jeremiah Tilmon both fouled out as the Tigers had no answer for Maten.

It didn’t take long for Porter Jr. to get in the game. He checked in with 17:22 to go in the first half. He scored shortly after on a fast-break layup, assisted by none other than Jontay.

Mizzou started the game on a 10-0 run, but then the Tigers offense went dormant. Georgia answered with a 19-2 run. During the run, Mizzou missed 14 straight attempts and 16 out of 17 shots. Porter Jr. ended a seven-minute scoreless drought with a three-pointer, the first of his collegiate career.

The Tigers were down 33-24 at halftime. Michael Porter Jr. scored five points on 2-10 shooting. He had four rebounds and one assist in 12 minutes of action. Mizzou’s leading scorer, Kassius Robertson, didn’t score on 0-3 shooting from the field.

Robertson scored his first points on the Tigers first possession of the second half. He finished with

East St. Louis native Jeremiah Tilmon brought the crowd to its feet with a tip-slam with just under 18 minutes to go in the game.

The Tigers were able to tie the game at 39 after a Robertson three-pointer with 14 minutes to play in the game. However, Georgia followed MU’s run with a 8-0 run of its own.

Mizzou’s next run would begin with under five minutes to go.

Porter Jr. nailed a three to cut the deficit to one before Georgia stretched it to two, but Robertson’s final shot did not fall.