Mizzou stifles Southern Illinois 64-48 in final tuneup before Braggin’ Rights Game
The Missouri Tigers easily defeated Southern Illinois 64-48 in their final tuneup before the annual Braggin’ Rights Game against Illinois.
The Tigers (6-4) looked a little rough in the early going Sunday, with four turnovers. After the opening four minutes or so, they were tied at 9 with the Salukis (4-7).
But Mizzou guard Mark Smith scored 12 straight points on four three-pointers, stretching a lead the Tigers wouldn’t relinquish.
Smith led the Tigers with one of his best nights yet in a Mizzou uniform, scoring a career-high 23 points. He shot 8 for 11 and made seven of nine three-point attempts.
Following Mizzou coach Cuonzo Martin’s principles, the Tigers’ defense stifled Southern Illinois. The Salukis shot 29.4% from the field (10 for 34) and 5 for 17 from three-point range. They never looked comfortable, attempting jumpers with few made baskets near the rim. Southern Illinois finished with just four assists as a team.
But the Salukis got to the free-throw line often. They were 23 for 36 from the line, accounting for nearly half of their points.
“You want to be aggressive,” Martin said. “But we have to do a good job of doing those things without fouling.”
MU guard Javon Pickett had his second straight game in double figures. Pickett added 13 following his 16-point performance in the Tigers’ win over Temple last week.
Mizzou dominated the game inside. The Tigers scored 28 points in the paint compared to the Salukis’ eight. They also out-rebounded Southern Illinois 37-21, pulling down 15 rebounds on the offensive end.
The Tigers shot 45.5% from the field (25 for 55) as a team. However, aside from Smith, Mizzou made just one of 14 three-point attempts. Three-point shooting has been a point of weakness for the Tigers so far this season.
Eric McGill led Southern Illinois with 11 points. Karrington Davis added nine.
Next up for Missouri is the annual rivalry game against Illinois at noon Saturday. The game will be played at Enterprise Center in St. Louis as one of Mizzou’s final nonconference games.
“We’re continuing to work, learning from all of our games,” Pickett said. “We’re very excited for (Braggin’ Rights).
“We’re going to work hard this next week so we’re prepared to go in there and do what we have to do and get the win.”
This story was originally published December 15, 2019 at 5:15 PM.