Field Level Media
Jan 28, 2020
Xavier Pinson and Dru Smith both scored 16 points to help Missouri overcome a 20-point, second-half deficit and snap a three-game losing streak in Southeastern Conference play with a 72-69 win against Georgia on Tuesday night in Columbia, Mo.
Missouri, which ended a four-game skid overall, trailed 59-39 after a 3-pointer from the Bulldogs' Anthony Edwards with 13:33 to go, but Georgia scored just 10 points the rest of the way.
Reed Nikko blocked a potential tying layup attempt from Edwards with 8.6 seconds to go, and Edwards missed a 3-point attempt at the buzzer after the Tigers split a pair of free throws.
Edwards registered a 23 points and 10 rebounds, and Tyree Crump scored 13 points for the Bulldogs, who lost their fourth straight game.
Nikko scored 13 points for Missouri (10-10, 2-5), Mitchell Smith had 12 points and seven rebounds, and Javon Pickett had 11 points. Pinson scored all of his 16 points after halftime.
The Tigers shot 54.2 percent in the second half compared to 36 percent for the Bulldogs.
Georgia's late 1-for-9 stretch from the field helped the Tigers use a 27-6 run to take a 66-65 lead with 2:20 remaining. Donnell Gresham Jr. responded with a layup to give the Bulldogs the lead with 2:02 to play, setting the stage for a back-and-forth finish.
The Tigers played the second half without injured leading scorer Mark Smith. He finished scoreless in 16 minutes.
Toumani Camara added 12 points for the Bulldogs (11-9, 1-6).
Georgia led by as many as 18 points in the first half and took a 42-30 lead into the break. A 12-0 run over a 2:55 span late in the half helped the Bulldogs build a cushion after the teams played evenly at the outset.
Edwards scored five points during the spurt and helped the Bulldogs to 51.9 percent shooting in the first half. Missouri struggled to a 34.5 percent effort from the field in the first half while missing each of its five attempts during Georgia's 10-0 run.
The Tigers hit seven 3-pointers before the break, including three in the final 4:42.
--Field Level Media