Missouri @ Mississippi State preview
Humphrey Coliseum
Last Meeting ( Feb 10, 2018 ) Mississippi State 85, Missouri 89
Surging Mississippi State aims for a fifth consecutive victory when it hosts struggling Missouri on Tuesday. The Bulldogs are tied for sixth in the SEC standings but sit just one game out of fourth place and a coveted double-bye in the conference tournament.
The Bulldogs kept their winning streak alive with a 76-61 home triumph over South Carolina on Saturday, erasing a 16-point, first-half deficit. Mississippi State has been tough on defense during the run, holding opponents to 64.2 points while averaging 10.8 steals and 5.8 blocks. The Tigers have dropped three straight contests and five of their last six, including a 64-60 defeat at Florida on Saturday. Missouri is winless in five trips to Mississippi State but snapped a five-game skid in the all-time series with an 89-85 overtime victory at home last season.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, SEC Network
ABOUT MISSOURI (12-14, 3-11 SEC): When the Tigers are at their best, they play tough defense and slow down the pace. They don’t have a lot of offensive weapons, but Jordan Geist (14.2 points) has reached double digits in points in a career-high nine consecutive games after scoring 16 at Florida. Mark Smith (11.4 points, 5.2 rebounds) is the top 3-point shooter (45 percent) in the SEC but has played in only two of the team's last nine games due to an ankle injury while Jeremiah Tilmon (10.6 points, 5.7 rebounds) has had difficulty avoiding foul trouble.
ABOUT MISSISSIPPI STATE (20-7, 8-6): The Bulldogs have been getting after it on defense lately, but they’re more noted for their offensive prowess. Quinndary Weatherspoon (19.8 points) has averaged 22.7 points and 2.7 steals over his last seven games, including five contests with 20 or more points, and Lamar Peters (12 points) can hurt opponents from 3-point range. Reigning SEC Freshman of the Week Reggie Perry (9.6 points, 6.6 rebounds) has been a major factor in the paint recently, posting double-doubles in five of his last nine games to increase his averages in conference play to 11.4 points and 7.6 rebounds.
TIP-INS
1. The Bulldogs are trying for their first five-game winning streak in SEC play since 2008.
2. Mississippi State has made 226 3-pointers, which ranks second in program history behind the 2009-10 team (244).
3. Missouri is the only team in the SEC to rank in the top five in 3-point shooting (fourth, 36.6 percent) and 3-point defense (second, 32.4).
PREDICTION: Mississippi State 74, Missouri 67