No. 20 Missouri men’s basketball (16-4, 5-2 SEC) bounced back from its loss against Texas with a ranked win over No. 23 Ole Miss (15-5, 4-3 SEC). This is Missouri’s strongest start to SEC play in seven games since joining the conference.

Tamar Bates and Caleb Grill held the recipe for success. Bates scored 26 points while Grill had 25 with a combined 10-for-16 three-point shooting and 11-for-11 free-throw shooting. 

“They carried us,” Head Coach Dennis Gates said postgame. “They made big play after big play, and they were definitely doing the same in the huddle with their leadership.”

After shooting one-for-five against the University of Texas, Grill knocked down six triples including a four-point play in the first half. He contributed five rebounds and three steals with his 25 points.

The Tigers started the game slowly, allowing the Rebels to take an 8-0 lead. Missouri quickly responded with its own 12-4 run, with 10 points courtesy of Bates.

Missouri held a 38-31 lead at halftime with Bates and Grill scoring 12 points each. The Tigers shot 43% from the field to the Rebels’ 48% but were able to make up the difference with three more three-pointers. 

Trent Pierce made his fifth straight start but struggled offensively, shooting one-for-six from the field in the first half. Pierce finished the game with seven points and six rebounds, leading the team with 33 minutes. 

Both teams struggle rebounding, ranking No. 14 and 15 respectively in rebounds per game in the SEC. The Tigers won the rebound battle 39-28 with guard Anthony Robinson ll pulling down a team-high seven rebounds.

“Having Josh Gray, having Mark Mitchell, having Trent Pierce, it rubs off on Tamar Bates who was challenged this summer about his rebounding,” Gates said. “And I think that Robinson took a piece of that, and he had seven rebounds tonight.”

Mitchell had a quiet night with six points in his 26 minutes. He still managed a plus-13 on court differential thanks to his work on the defensive end with two blocks and two steals. 

The Rebels fouled down the stretch in an attempt to crawl back into the game. Missouri shot 10-for-12 from the line in the final 2:10 and finished the game with 39 free throw attempts, their most in conference play.

Missouri’s next two contests will be on the road. The first game is against Mississippi State at noon on Saturday, Feb. 1.

Edited by Dylan Heinrich | dheinrich@themaneater.com 

Copyedited by Hannah Taylor | htaylor@themaneater.com 

Edited by Annie Goodykoontz | agoodykoontz@themaneater.com