Geist lifts Mizzou past Georgia in first round of SEC Tournament

Jordan Geist had no intention of ending his Mizzou career in the first round of the SEC tournament as he led the Tigers to a 71-61 win over Georgia.

Geist had a career-high 30 points to help keep Mizzou’s season alive. Xavier Pinson also added 15 points.

Mizzou shot 41 percent from the field and 27 percent from three.

The Tigers held Georgia to just 37 percent from the field and 21 percent from three. The Bulldogs also missed 15 free throws.Xavier Pinson came out firing offensively for the Tigers. With the shot clock expiring around the 11-minute mark, Pinson drove and somehow got a finger roll to fall to give the Tigers a 16-11 lead. He had six of Mizzou’s opening 16 points.

Foul trouble was an issue for the Tigers early on. Pinson picked up his third foul with 7:54 to go in the first half. His foul trouble allowed him to play just nine minutes in the first half. Jeremiah Tilmon also picked up two early fouls. The sophomore played only eight minutes in the first half.

With Pinson in foul trouble, Jordan Geist took over. With just more than six minutes to go in the first half, Geist drove to the basket and scored high off the glass to put Mizzou up 23-18. Geist had 14 points in the first half.

With multiple Tigers in foul trouble, Nicolas Claxton began to go to work inside. Claxton had nine points, four rebounds and five blocks in the first half. The Bulldogs went on a 13-4 run, and Georgia led Mizzou 34-32 at the half.

Tilmon picked up his fourth foul with 12:17 to go in the second half. He finished with just four points and six rebounds.

Geist continued to dominate in the second half. He drilled a three with 7:58 to go to give the Tigers their largest lead of the game to that point, 52-45. Mizzou never looked back.

The Tigers will face Auburn on Thursday at 2:30 p.m. in the next round of the SEC tournament.