The former Hoosier produced a career-best 36 points, but it wasn’t enough to earn his team its first win in SEC play.
Missouri’s quest for their first SEC victory of the season continued inside of Mizzou Arena on Saturday night, as the Tigers hosted the Florida Gators in their fifth game of conference play. Unfortunately for Missouri, victory evaded them once again as they were bested by the Gators 79-67.
The Tigers were unable to capitalize on a career-best scoring night from junior guard Tamar Bates. Bates scored 36 points, 11 more than his previous career-high of 25 in his team’s win over Central Arkansas earlier this season. Bates shot 13/21 from the field, and was a perfect 9/9 at the free throw line.
“He’s an excellent scorer,” head coach Dennis Gates said. “Individual performance wise, it was probably one of the best I’ve seen in a long time.”
The game was fast-paced from the tip. Missouri created loads of chaos both defensively and in transition, which helped them to an early 6-5 lead. The Tigers’ defense threw a multitude of traps and double-teams at Florida, and the Gators struggled to get comfortable in any of their sets early.
“I thought we had an excellent gameplan, and we kept them on their heels,” Gates said.
Out of the under-16 timeout, Florida began to adjust to the Missouri’s style and started utilizing some more hectic defensive tactics of their own, but the Tigers were able to successfully protect the ball. Missouri didn’t record its first turnover until freshman Anthony Robinson II picked up an offensive foul at the 10:44 mark.
On the offensive side of the ball, the first ten minutes of the game belonged to Bates. The junior opened the scoring for the Tigers with a strong finish at the rim through heavy contact from a Gator defender. He was responsible for eight of the Tigers’ first 14 points.
After Bates was substituted out of the game, Missouri’s offense slowed down significantly. Graduate Noah Carter scored on two post moves, and graduate Connor Vanover added a basket of his own, but Missouri trailed 22-20 at the under-8 timeout.
Bates was put back into the game after the timeout, but his time on the bench didn’t seem to cool him off one bit. He scored seven straight Missouri points, including an isolation three-pointer that brought Mizzou Arena to their feet.
While Bates was having success on the offensive end, Missouri as a whole was unable to find team success during his dominant run. The Tigers were outscored 9-5 after the under-4 timeout, allowing Florida to take a 37-34 lead into halftime.
Bates continued his hot streak into the second half. The Indiana transfer opened the half with a crafty finish at the rim, and followed it with a mid-range jumper and a floater for six of Missouri’s first nine points in the half, with graduate student Nick Honor hitting from distance as well. But the Tigers still were struggling to stop the Gators’ offense, as Florida sported a 47-43 lead at the under-16 timeout.
With 11:45 remaining in the half, senior Jesus Carralero Martin found Bates on a backdoor cut to make the score 55-49. This would be Missouri’s last made field goal until Bates was able to score again, this time an and-one at the 6:12 mark. Florida would take full advantage of the Tigers’ cold streak, extending their lead to as much as 13 during the run.
Bates would add eight more points before the game’s end, and was responsible for 11 of his team’s last 15 points. However, his heroic effort wasn’t enough for Missouri to ever threaten the Gator lead. The Tigers’ dropped their fifth consecutive game and eighth loss out of their last nine games played.
Florida was able to earn their lead through success both at the three-point line as well as the free throw line. The Gators shot 40% from long range, far superior to Missouri’s 18%. They were able to knock down 20 of their 29 attempts at the free throw line, and although Missouri shot a higher percentage, going 18/21, the difference in attempts helped give Florida the upper hand it needed.
“I don’t care what percentage we shoot,” Gates said. “When you have 21 attempts and they made 20…that is a lopsided stat.”
The Gators also won the rebounding battle 40-27, including 13 offensive rebounds, which led to 13 second chance points.
“We’re just consistently messing up on the small things,” Honor said. “Getting the rebounds and stopping teams from second chance points.”
Florida had five scorers in double figures, led by graduate student Tyrese Samuel’s 17. Sophomore Micah Handlogten posted a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds.
Joining Bates in double figures was Honor, who scored 10 points and knocked in two of MU’s three three-pointers.
“I wish [Honor] could’ve shot more,” Gates said. “He only shot five times.”
The loss knocks Missouri down to 8-10 on the season, and 0-5 in SEC play.
Missouri’s next chance at an SEC win comes Saturday at noon when they travel to take on the 16-3 South Carolina Gamecocks.
Edited by Quentin Corpuel
Copy edited by Grace Knight | gknight@themaneater.com