Sometimes, one small stretch of a game is so overwhelmingly one-sided that it determines the result of the full contest.
That was the case Wednesday night in Columbia as Mizzou blew past Minnesota in the second
half for an 83-60 win.
The Tigers led by just two with 11:58 remaining in the second half after a Cade Tyson free throw. Dennis Gates’ squad responded with a game-deciding offensive onslaught, going on a 14-0 run over the following three minutes and eight seconds of game time to take a commanding 63-47 advantage.
Mizzou kept its foot on the gas over the final eight minutes, extending its lead to the final margin of 23 points. MU caught fire from the field after the half, shooting 69.2 percent and going 6-of-10 from beyond the arc en route to 51 second half points.
Mark Mitchell again paced the Tigers in scoring with 18 points, going 6-of-11 from the field and reeling in six rebounds.
But Mizzou’s bench was key to the victory, recording 41 of the team’s 83 points. Jayden Stone and Jacob Crews both put together banner performances in relief of the team’s starters, recording 13 and 14 points, respectively. Crews was especially important to the Tigers’ second half charge, sinking three of his four triples in the final 20 minutes.
Despite Mizzou’s second half domination, the Tigers trailed for much of the first half after a painstakingly slow start to the night on offense.
Minnesota jumped out to a 10-5 lead with 16:05 remaining in the opening half through two Isaac Asuma triples. The Golden Gophers created more separation with a 7-0 run, leading 17-8 with 11:15 to go in the first.
Sebastian Mack accounted for all of MU’s first eight points as no one else for the Tigers could seemingly get into a rhythm on the offensive end.
Needing to change the game’s direction fast, Dennis Gates switched his team to a zone defense. The change prompted some of Mizzou’s best defense of the young season, allowing the to slowly gain ground.
The Tigers took their first lead of the game, 25-24, on a long Anthony Robinson II three-pointer with 4:57 left in the half. The squads traded the lead until Robinson delivered some more timely points in the final seconds before halftime, sinking two free throws to put Mizzou ahead 32-30.
MU outshot their visitors from the field, 48 percent to 36 percent, and held Minnesota to a 3-of-15 mark from beyond the arc over the opening frame. But the Golden Gophers compensated by dominating the board, 24 to 11, and putting up 10 more field goal attempts in the opening 20 minutes with the help of 11 offensive rebounds.
Mizzou tightened up the rebounding margin in the second half, allowing them to stifle Minnesota on defense while catching fire on offense.
The win moves the Tigers to 4-0 on the season and gives them their first power conference victory of the campaign. Mizzou will return to action in Columbia this Monday, Nov. 17, against Prairie View A&M. The game will be broadcast on SEC Network+.
