Mizzou obliterates Mississippi State for 20th win of the year
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
Mizzou lit host Mississippi State up with 54 first-half points en route to an 85-68 win in Starkville on Saturday, reaching the 20-win plateau for the second straight season.
The Tigers jumped out to a 9-0 lead within the first two-and-a-half minutes and never looked back. They shot a scintillating 61.3% from the field while holding the Bulldogs to 33.3% as they led 52-23 at the halftime break. Mizzou‘s lead grew to as much as 34 in the second half as Mississippi State, despite a more even period, found itself in too deep a hole. The Bulldogs turned the ball over 18 times, leading to 27 points for the Tigers.
Mizzou placed five players in double digits, led by Mark Mitchell’s 17. The senior guard was 6-of-11 from the field in this one. Shawn Phillips Jr. added 16 while Anthony Robinson II scored 13. T.O. Barrett and Trent Pierce had 10 each. Jayden Stone had 10 rebounds.
Josh Hubbard scored 16 points to lead Mississippi State. Quincy Ballard (12) was the only other Bulldog in double figures.
Mizzou, which has now won back-to-back games, visits Oklahoma on Tuesday. Mississippi State is on the road on Tuesday as well, heading to Gainesville to face Florida.
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
