Tony Perkins ties his season high of 18 against Illinois despite the loss
The 55th installment of the Braggin’ Rights Rivalry game between Missouri and Illinois took place at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis and ended in dramatic fashion. The Illini managed to snap the Tigers’ 10-game winning streak after a 80-77 victory.
Going into halftime the Tigers trailed 32-37 with a clear lack of three-point production. The Tigers shot 1-for-5 from three in the opening half compared to Illinois’ 5-15 total. Missouri still kept it close into half with good production from the free throw line and inside the arc, scoring 18 in the paint and nine at the free throw line.
Missouri was active defensively, forcing 17 turnovers and only having nine themselves. Despite this margin, the Tigers only had 12 points off of turnovers, which was one more than Illinois with 11.
Missouri head coach Dennis Gates yells at a referee during the Tigers’ game against Illinois on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Mo. Coach Gates received a technical foul for running out onto the court to confront the referee.
“Ultimately, we forced 17 turnovers. Only had, I think, nine points off turnovers,” Head Coach Dennis Gates said. “We should have been able to convert a little bit better in that area.”
After quickly going down by 10 with six minutes left to play in the game, Missouri sparked a 10-2 run, bringing the Illini lead to only one. Missouri would keep it close in a back-and-forth final few minutes up until Kylan Boswell was fouled with eight seconds left. He made the first then missed the next and Jacob Crews got the rebound. He then went coast-to-coast as the clock winded down, and at the buzzer he shot a three-pointer that bounced off the rim and out, ending the game at 80-77.
Another big factor in the first half for Missouri was the struggle on the boards. In the first half the Tigers were outrebounded by the Fighting Illini 23 to nine, creating a second chance point discrepancy of nine to one. Missouri created nine turnovers on defense and only had five of its own.
Missouri sophomore guard Anthony Robinson II looks for an opening while Illinois junior guard Kylan Boswell plays defense during the Tigers’ game against Illinois on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Mo. Robinson tallied three steals in 15 minutes of playing time while also picking up four fouls.
Tony Perkins ended the game as Missouri’s leading scorer with 18 points on 5-11 from the field. He led the Tigers in minutes played with 37, almost playing the entire game. Kasparas Jakucionis led the Illini in scoring with 21 points on 5-11 from the field and 3-7 from three.
“The SEC has proved to be the best conference in the country thus far,” guard Tamar Bates said. “Being in these close games and having these lessons to look back on – we just know what we have to clean up.”
Missouri junior Mark Mitchell drives to the basket during the Tigers’ annual McBride Home Braggin’ Rights matchup against Illinois on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Mo.
Missouri’s next game will be back at home against Alabama State on Dec. 30.
Edited by Michael Stamps | mstamps@themaneater.com
Copyedited by Emma Short | eshort@themaneater.com
Edited by Annie Goodykoontz | agoodykoontz@themaneater.com