No. 21 Missouri outlasts Mississippi State's comeback bid

Field Level Media|published: Thu 13th March, 22:47 2025

Missouri Tigers guard Mark Mitchell (25) shoots over Mississippi State Bulldogs guard Claudell Harris Jr. (0) during their second round game of the SEC Men's Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, March 13, 2025.

Tamar Bates scored 25 points to lead seventh-seeded Missouri to an 85-73 win over 10th-seed Mississippi State in the second round of the SEC tournament Thursday in Nashville.

Tony Perkins added 20 points for the Tigers (22-10), who beat the Bulldogs for the second time this season.

But while the Tigers won that game handily, by 27 points Feb. 1 on the road, this one was much tighter.

The Bulldogs (21-12) took a lead on Josh Hubbard's four-point play with just less than five minutes remaining.

But Mississippi State wouldn't hit another field goal until less than 30 seconds remained.

The game was tied with just over four minutes remaining before Caleb Grill took a feed from Anthony Robinson II and dunked it home; Aidan Shaw blocked Hubbard's shot on the other end moments later.

Grill's dunk ignited a 12-2 run that ultimately put the game out of reach, the last six points of which were scored by Bates.

The Bulldogs missed seven consecutive shots during the stretch.

After turning the ball over nine times before halftime, the Tigers had just five turnovers in the second half.

Missouri advances to take on second-seed Florida in Friday's quarterfinals.

The Tigers beat the Gators 83-82 on the road Jan. 14.

Missouri outrebounded Mississippi State 43-35, with Josh Gray leading the way with 12 boards.

The Tigers also attacked the rim throughout, outscoring Mississippi State 19-6 on the fast break and 36-30 in the paint.

The Tigers lost their leading scorer, Mark Mitchell, in the first half due to a right knee injury.

Mitchell had seven points on 3-of-4 shooting in 12 minutes before leaving the game.

Missouri led by eight late in the first half before the Tigers went nearly four minutes without scoring as Mississippi State came back to tie it before Missouri took a five-point lead into the break.

Hubbard led the Bulldogs with 24 points but was just 3 of 14 from beyond the arc. He scored 17 of his points in the second half.

Mississippi State was 6 of 30 on 3-pointers in the loss and finished just 36.4 percent from the floor overall.

--Field Level Media

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