Texas A&M @ Missouri preview
Mizzou Arena
Last Meeting ( Jan 19, 2019 ) Missouri 66, Texas A&M 43
Two teams trying to claw their way to higher seeds in next month’s SEC tournament square off Saturday, when Missouri hosts Texas A&M. Missouri has won each of the last two meetings, including a 66-43 victory at Texas A&M on Jan. 19, following the Aggies’ seven-game winning streak in the all-time series.
The Tigers are looking to bounce back from Tuesday's 72-60 loss at top-ranked Tennessee in which they hung around despite shooting 35.4 percent. Missouri played one of its best games of the season in the first meeting, shooting 48.1 percent while holding the Aggies to 26 percent - including a 4-for-22 effort from 3-point range. The Aggies have lost three straight overall and six consecutive conference games after letting a nine-point lead slip away in the second half of a 75-71 loss at Ole Miss on Wednesday. Texas A&M is 1-4 on the road, but its only SEC win was an 81-80 decision at Alabama on Jan. 12.
TV: 6 p.m. ET, SEC Network
ABOUT TEXAS A&M (8-13, 1-8 SEC): The Aggies have heated up from beyond the arc lately, reaching double digits in 3-pointers in consecutive games for the first time this season. TJ Starks (12.5 points) leads the team in scoring, but Wendell Mitchell (12.3) has topped 20 points in three of his last five games. Josh Nebo (8.7 points, six rebounds), who has recorded a double-double in two of his last three contests, ranks second in the SEC with 2.5 blocks per game.
ABOUT MISSOURI (11-10, 2-7): The Tigers have led the SEC in 3-point shooting for most of the season, but they’ve dropped to second in the conference at 37.1 percent after cooling off recently. It hasn’t helped that they’ve been without sharpshooter Mark Smith (12.6 points) for the last four games because of an ankle injury. Jordan Geist (13.7 points) and Jeremiah Tilmon (10.7, 5.9 rebounds) have had to carry the offense in Smith’s absence.
TIP-INS
1. The Tigers are shooting 28.9 percent from 3-point range in four games without Smith. who leads the SEC at 47.5 percent from beyond the arc.
2. Missouri is 11-0 when holding opponents under 70 points.
3. Texas A&M G Brandon Mahan is 10-for-11 from 3-point range over his last two games.
PREDICTION: Missouri 72, Texas A&M 69