Mizzou falls to South Carolina in overtime, still searching for first SEC win
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
After starting SEC play 0-2, Dennis Gates' crew was hunting for its first conference win of the season on Saturday afternoon. However, the Tigers left Mizzou Arena empty handed after South Carolina posted a 71-69 comeback win in overtime.
You can watch the full postgame press conference with Gates and players in the video player below.
Mizzou got off to a slow start on its home floor. South Carolina started the game on a 7-0 scoring run, courtesy of a pair of layups and a three-pointer from Myles Stute.
However, the Tigers quickly rallied to take the lead. Mizzou strung together a 12-4 scoring run, capped off by a steal and score from Nick Honor, to take a 12-11 lead with just over 13 minutes left in the first half.
From there, neither team was able to build a comfortable lead. Mizzou's largest lead of the game was just six points, and South Carolina's fast 7-0 start was its biggest lead of the contest.
Mizzou held a 62-59 lead with just 43 seconds left in regulation after Sean East drained a pair of free throws, but South Carolina's Ta'lon Cooper tied the game with a long three-pointer to force overtime.
In overtime, South Carolina took the lead on two free throws from Jacobi Wright. Noah Carter was able to tie the game 69-69 with a late three-pointer, but Wright knocked down a jumper on South Carolina's next possession to seal the Gamecocks' victory.
Carter was the leading scorer for the Tigers in this contest, posting 23 points and five rebounds. East was not too far behind Carter, scoring 15 points and adding a team-high eight rebounds of his own.
As a team, the Tigers finished Saturday's contest shooting 41.9% from the field, and three different players finished in double figures.
While Mizzou posted a solid shooting percentage from the floor, the Tigers did not have as much success from three-point range. Gates' crew made just five of its 22 triples in the game.
After Saturday's loss, Mizzou is now 0-3 in SEC play and has an overall record of 8-8. The team's last win was back on Dec. 30 against Central Arkansas.
Up next - Mizzou hits the road again for a matchup against Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Tipoff for that game is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 16 at 6 p.m.
