Columbia, SC (Sports Network) - Jabari Brown scored 23 points in 23 minutes as
the Missouri Tigers crushed the South Carolina Gamecocks, 90-68, in SEC action
at Colonial Life Arena.
Brown shot 8-of-10 from the floor and added five assists for the Tigers (20-8,
9-6 SEC) as they won for the second time in the last three outings. Keion Bell
led all scorers with 24 points, while Alex Oriakhi pitched in with 18 points
as he shot a perfect 6-of-6 from the field and 6-of-6 at the free-throw line.
Damien Leonard scored 20 points for the Gamecocks (13-15, 3-12), knocking down
6-of-10 from beyond the arc, followed by Brenton Williams and Brian Richardson
with 10 points apiece as the team bowed for the eighth time in nine tries.
Missouri opened the contest on a 13-5 run, but the score was then tied up at
17-17 about eight minutes in before the Tigers again separated themselves as
they converted a sizzling 66.7 percent from the floor in the period in order
to take a 45-38 lead at the break.
In the second half the visitors stepped up their efforts with an incredible
72.7 percent accuracy from the floor, en route to the lopsided victory.
The Tigers came close to having their best-ever shooting effort, a mark set at
a staggering 75.4 percent versus Hawaii Loa back in 1989, but the visitors
missed four of their final six field goal attempts as they fell short (.696)
of that lofty mark.
GAME NOTES:
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