This time with emphasis: Missouri Tigers manhandle Kentucky 89-75 in SEC hoops opener
Missouri started the season by feasting on mid- and low-major competition. The Tigers have stepped up in class on the schedule, but the results remain the same.
Mizzou knocked off its second straight ranked team, and this victory comes with emphasis because it was the Tigers’ SEC opener against No. 19 Kentucky.
Missouri took control early and dominated 89-75. The script was the same as the Tigers’ victory over Illinois in St. Louis last week.
Kobe Brown, who won the SEC’s weekly player award last week with 31 points in the Braggin Rights game, led the way again, this time with 30. He was a steady presence throughout as many others orbited around him with superb performances.
Brown made four of eight three-pointers and added six rebounds.
D’Moi Hodge scored 15 points and DeAndre Gholston and Sean East each chipped in 12, with all of East’s production coming in the first half — including seven straight points when the Tigers had cooled off.
A defensive switch to zone in the second half gave the Tigers a power boost. Kentucky had closed a 12-point halftime deficit to nine, and the Missouri lead was 58-47 when Tigers coach Dennis Gates ordered a zone. Missouri came up with steals on consecutive possessions and Hodge and Brown finished both with three-pointers.
The clincher: Gholston’s deep three-pointer to give Missouri a 84-63 lead heading into the final media timeout.
The teams entered the game as the top two three-point-shooting teams in the SEC. But Missouri connected on 10 of 23 for 43%. Kentucky, a 40% shooting team from deep, went eight of 23 for 35%.
The Wildcats (8-4) entered the game with losses to Michigan State, Gonzaga and UCLA. They were never part of this game. Oscar Tshiebwe, the reigning national player of the year, was again a beast on the boards: He had 19 rebounds to go with his 23 points.
But it wasn’t enough to keep it close.
In improving to 12-1, the Tigers have already matched their victory total from last season. Gates’ first Missouri team is off to the program’s best start since 2012, when Mizzou opened with 14 straight victories.
Until Wednesday, Kentucky had defeated Missouri in 14 of 16 SEC games.
Next for Missouri is a trip to Arkansas on Jan. 4.
This story was originally published December 28, 2022 at 8:28 PM.