Mizzou snaps 19-game conference losing streak with dominant win over LSU
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Mizzou men's basketball team finally got their SEC losing streak off their back.
Head coach Dennis Gates and company had not beaten a conference opponent since March 10, 2023, heading into the game against LSU on Tuesday night. However, the 19-game skid came to an end with a 83-67 win over the Baton Rouge Tigers.
You can watch the full postgame press conference with Coach Gates, as well as guards Tamar Bates and Anthony Robinson in the video player below.
With the victory, MU improved to 12-4 overall in 2024 and 1-1 in the Southeastern Conference.
As MU was looking to make it 12-straight wins at home, the Tigers came out of the gates strong. Gates' group built up an early lead over LSU thanks to turnovers. The Baton Rouge Tigers had trouble taking care of the basketball early on, as they had 10 first half turnovers. Mizzou capitalized in the first 20 minutes with 14 points off of those mistakes.
After taking a 15-point lead into halftime, Gates' squad came out in the second half with the same kind of fire.
The Tigers got back to the status quo on the offensive end, after an abysmal shooting performance in the SEC opening loss to No. 2 Auburn on Saturday. In that game down in Alabama, Mizzou shot just 38 percent from the field and 30 percent from 3- point range. However, in Tuesday's night's win, MU went 46 percent from the field and 48 percent from 3-point range, hitting 12 shots from beyond the arc.
Five Tigers got into double-figures in the dominating win over LSU.
Bates led all scorers with 20 points on 66% shooting from the field. Robinson was right behind him with 16 points of his own.
Gates' team not only out-shot LSU, but out-rebounded the Baton Rouge Tigers, as well. Mizzou grabbed eight more boards in the win, out-rebounding the LSU 37-29. Tiger big man Josh Gray led the rebounding attack for MU, grabbing 10 on Tuesday night.
Up next - Mizzou will host another SEC opponent at home, as the Vanderbilt Commodores will be in Columbia on Saturday, Jan. 11. Tipoff is slated for 2:30 p.m.
