Kentucky Wildcats vs Missouri Tigers Match Player Stats On Feb 03, 2021

Dru Smith pumped in a game-high 26 points Wednesday night as No. 18 Missouri added to Kentucky's season of misery with a 75-70 Southeastern Conference win in Columbia, Mo.

Xavier Pinson added 14 for the Tigers (12-3, 5-3 SEC) and Mark Smith chipped in 11 points. Missouri never trailed, although its double-figure halftime lead sank to one early in the second half and was still just three with 4:53 remaining after Davion Mintz dunked in transition.

But the Tigers answered back with six straight points, all by Smiths. Mark started it with a pullup jumper, and Dru finished it with four straight free throws that made it a 74-65 game with 2:05 remaining.

The Wildcats (5-11, 4-5) got 18 points from Mintz, plus 10 each from Brandon Boston Jr. and Keion Brooks Jr. It wasn't enough to overcome another night in which Kentucky failed to do the little things and struggled to run plays down the stretch.

Kentucky actually shot 47.3 percent, about six percentage points above its average, and managed a 39-37 edge on the boards. But the Wildcats coughed up 17 turnovers that Missouri converted into 19 points and also made only 9 of 16 foul shots.

Missouri controlled most of the first half, doing so behind a weapon it hasn't fired all that well this year -- the 3-pointer. The Tigers entered the game ranked 303rd in Division I in 3-point percentage, yet went 7 of 11 in the opening 20 minutes.

Three of Missouri's first four buckets were 3s, including one by Parker Braun that kicked off its first big spurt. Pinson's layup off a Kentucky turnover capped a 9-2 burst that gave the Tigers a 17-8 lead at the 12:39 mark.

The Wildcats were able to crawl within four points a minute later, but failed to make a field goal in the half's final 5:01. Missouri took advantage, getting a putback from Dru Smith with two seconds left to take a 40-27 advantage to intermission.

--Field Level Media