Mizzou dominates Florida in season-best offensive performance, picks up first SEC win
The Missouri Tigers posted their best offensive performance of the season, dominating the Florida Gators in a 91-75 win.
After a season defined by a stagnant offense, Mizzou (9-6, 1-2 SEC) exploded on the offensive end of the floor against Florida (10-4, 2-1) on Saturday at Mizzou Arena.
On the opening possession, Mizzou guard Mark Smith drilled a three-pointer and the Tigers were off from there.
In an attempt to fix a struggling offense, Mizzou coach Cuonzo Martin stressed several elements, from not turning the ball over to transition points and making three-pointers.
The Tigers did exactly that. They shot 61.5 percent from the field, a season high. They made 12 three-pointers, finishing at 63.2 percent on three-pointers. Whenever Florida looked to string together a run, Mizzou answered with a shot that energized the crowd.
“Shots went down,” Martin said. “For our guys, for the most part, if we’re not scoring, at least we’re getting the shots that we’re trying to get to.”
Mizzou had four different players in double-digit scoring, with Dru Smith leading the way with 22 points. Javon Pickett and Mark Smith had 14 each, while Mitchell Smith added 10.
The Tigers kept the Florida offense in check. The Gators missed their first seven shots, finishing at 38.5 percent (20 for 52). Florida did most of its damage from the free-throw line. The Gators shot 25 for 32 from the charity stripe, hanging around in the second half. But Mizzou pulled away in the second half, leading from start to finish.
Florida forward Kerry Blackshear Jr. led the Gators in scoring with 22 points. Gators guard Noah Locked added 12 points.
Before the game, freshman guard Mario McKinney Jr. was announced as suspended indefinitely, per a Mizzou spokesperson.
Mizzou travels to face Mississippi State for an 8 p.m. Tuesday game at Starkville, Mississippi.
“You can’t defend the level we defend at, get steals and turnovers, and don’t capitalize on them,” Martin said. “We have to be aggressive, we have to be assertive. You have to score, you have to put pressure on defense. We work hard for us defensively then all of a sudden allow their defense to get set.”
This story was originally published January 11, 2020 at 9:49 PM.