Tough day for the black and gold. Honestly, it’s just one of those games where the box score tells a story, but the actual rhythm of the game tells another. The mizzou tigers basketball score from Saturday afternoon in Baton Rouge ended up as a 78-70 loss to LSU, and man, was it a grind.
LSU hadn't won a single SEC game all year before this. They were 0-4. Missouri, meanwhile, was sitting pretty at 3-1 in the conference, tied for first place. On paper? Mizzou should’ve handled business. But college hoops doesn't care about your paper stats.
The Brutal Start That Killed the Vibe
You can’t win games when you don't score for five minutes. Seriously. Mizzou missed their first seven shots. LSU opened up on a 10-0 run, and it felt like there was a lid on the basket for Dennis Gates’ squad. By the time Jayden Stone finally got a bucket to drop, the atmosphere in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center was already electric.
LSU's Marquel Sutton was basically a human torch in the first half. He dropped 19 of his 26 points before the break. Mizzou looked step-slow on the perimeter, and their defensive rotations were just... off. They went into the locker room trailing 37-27, which, considering how bad they shot, actually felt lucky.
Taking a Closer Look at the Key Numbers
- Jayden Stone: 20 points, 4 rebounds (16 points in the second half).
- Mark Mitchell: 13 points, 5 rebounds.
- T.O. Barrett: 11 points, 4 assists.
- Shawn Phillips Jr.: 10 points.
Stone is really becoming the guy. He’s closing in on 1,000 career points—only 8 away now—and he tried his best to put the team on his back. In the second half, he and Trent Pierce sparked a 16-5 run that actually got Missouri within three points. The score was 50-47 at one point. You could feel the momentum shifting.
But then, every single time Mizzou made a big play, LSU had an answer. Usually a back-breaking three-pointer. Max Mackinnon hit a few that just absolutely sucked the air out of the comeback attempt.
Why the Turnovers and Rebounds Ruined Everything
Look, Mizzou actually outshot LSU. They hit 43.5% of their field goals compared to LSU’s 42.4%. Usually, if you shoot better than the other team, you win. Not this time.
The glass was the problem. LSU grabbed 16 offensive rebounds. That led to 21 second-chance points. You simply cannot give a team that many extra looks, especially on their home floor.
And then there are the turnovers. Mizzou gave it away 12 times. T.O. Barrett had five of those himself. When you’re trying to claw back from a double-digit deficit, every empty possession feels like a punch in the gut. LSU only turned it over seven times. In a game decided by eight points, that’s basically the whole story right there.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Team
People see the mizzou tigers basketball score against a winless-in-conference LSU team and start hitting the panic button. "Oh no, we’re frauds," or "Here we go again."
Stop.
This Mizzou team is miles ahead of where they were last season. They’ve already beaten Auburn and Kentucky this month. Winning on the road in the SEC is objectively hard. Even the "bad" teams have future pros and home-court energy.
The real issue isn't the talent; it’s the consistency. Mark Mitchell is a beast—he's averaging over 17 points a game—but he only had two points in the first half of this one. LSU’s defense clamped him, and nobody else was ready to step up until it was almost too late.
The Road Ahead
Missouri falls to 13-5 overall and 3-2 in the SEC. They aren't in first place anymore, but they are right in the thick of the race for a good seed in the tournament.
Next up? A massive home game against No. 21 Georgia. That’s Tuesday night at 8:00 p.m. at Mizzou Arena. If they want to prove this LSU loss was just a fluke road trip, they have to protect their home court. Georgia is playing well, and Mizzou Arena needs to be loud.
Actionable Insights for the Next Game
If you're watching the Georgia game, keep an eye on these three things. They will determine if the Tigers bounce back or slide into a mid-season slump.
First, watch the first four minutes. Mizzou cannot afford another scoreless drought. They need an easy bucket for Mark Mitchell early to get his confidence up.
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Second, check the offensive rebound tally. If the Tigers are getting bullied on the boards by Georgia, it’s going to be a long night. Shawn Phillips Jr. has to be more physical inside.
Third, look at Jayden Stone’s usage. He’s the hot hand. If he gets to 1,000 career points early in the first half, it might provide the spark the rest of the roster needs.
The season is long. One road loss to a hungry LSU team isn't a death sentence, but it's a wake-up call. Missouri has the pieces; they just need to put them together for a full 40 minutes instead of just the final 20.