Dru Smith and Xavier Pinson help Mizzou basketball dominate No. 11 Auburn
Off the efforts of Xavier Pinson and Dru Smith, the Missouri Tigers blew out No. 11 Auburn 85-73 on Saturday.
Mizzou (12-13, 4-8 SEC) upset Auburn (22-3, 9-3) with a dominant effort. The duo of Pinson and Smith combined for 56 points at Mizzou Arena.
Pinson and Smith were getting it done everywhere, whether it was on three-pointers or tricky shots near the basket. Auburn had few answers for the two starting guards for Missouri. The duo also had 33 points in the first half, single-handedly outscoring Auburn 33-32.
A week after scoring a then career-high 24 points defeating Arkansas, Pinson outdid himself with a new career-high 28 points against Auburn. Smith also had a career-high 28 points. Kobe Brown impressed, finishing with 10 points and nine rebounds.
Mizzou had one of its best offensive performance of the season. MU coach Cuonzo Martin’s Tigers shot 54.9 percent from the field. The three-pointers (7 for 13) fell, and Mizzou attacked the basket often.
“They’re good players,” Martin said of Pinson and Smith. “Both continue to grow. Two guards that can go out there that can make a shot and go out there and make plays.”
The fouls were plentiful for Mizzou and Auburn, the two teams combining for 56 fouls, including three of the technical variety.
Auburn finished 30 for 46 from the free-throw line, which kept Auburn in the game. But shots didn’t fall for coach Bruce Pearl’s Tigers. They finished 1 for 17 on three-pointers. They went long stretches without field goals, but relied on free throws. That wasn’t enough in Auburn’s third loss of the season.
Mizzou was again without Jeremiah Tilmon (stress fracture) and Mark Smith (lower back) as they deal with their injuries. Mark Smith has missed the past five games. Tilmon had a setback on his foot, sitting the past three games.
Auburn forward Austin Wiley scored 22 points and J’Von McCormick had 21 points.
Mizzou next hosts Mississippi at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Mizzou Arena.
“They’re a talented team,” Martin said. “They can make shots. They can drive the ball, get to the free-throw line. But I thought we did a great job. It was a great team win, and our guys will continue to grow.”
This story was originally published February 15, 2020 at 7:39 PM.