First half

• Key play: A three-pointer by junior forward Tony Criswell extended Missouri’s lead to 36-22, its biggest of the half. It was only Criswell’s second three-pointer of the season.

• Key stat: Missouri won the turnover battle 8-3 in the first half.

Second half

• Key play: Georgia pulled to within eight early in the second half, but baskets by freshman forward Stefan Jankovic and Jabari Brown keyed a quick 5-0 run that helped Missouri re-establish momentum.

• Key stat: Georgia finished with more than twice as many turnovers (19) than assists (nine).

Haith praises Bell

Junior point guard Phil Pressey played only 30 minutes on Wednesday, finishing with five points, six assists and four steals. Missouri has struggled to initiate its offense this season when Pressey has sat, but Haith was pleased with the way senior guard Keion Bell (three assists) ran the offense while Pressey rested.

“We’ve been practicing a lot with Keion playing the one,” Haith said. “He has a feel for it.”

• Haith said senior forward Laurence Bowers, who missed his second straight game because of a MCL sprain in his right knee, is progressing well in his recovery.

“L-Bo is doing great,” Haith said. “We got some really good news of how he’s coming along. I still don’t know that he’ll play Saturday, but he’s doing well.”