Mizzou men’s team suffers their fifth consecutive loss, unable to control Florida in a 79-67 defeat.
In Columbia, Missouri, the struggles of the men’s basketball team persist, resembling a skidding car on an icy road. They slipped past the Bulldogs, Wildcats, Gamecocks, and Crimson Tide, only to land in the Southeastern Conference’s basement, sharing winless status in conference play with 5-13 Vanderbilt.
Despite guard Tamar Bates’ career-high 36 points, the Tigers (8-10, 0-5 SEC) succumbed to Florida with a 79-67 loss. Bates’s exceptional performance, marking Missouri’s first 30-point game of the season, couldn’t prevent the team’s descent. He also contributed the most first-half points for MU this season. However, the rest of the team combined for only 31 points, with no other player scoring more than 10.
Missouri’s three-for-16 shooting from beyond the 3-point line fell short against Florida’s nine-for-22 performance. The Tigers, now having lost eight of their last nine games, secured only one victory in 48 days against Central Arkansas.
Early in the game, Mizzou showed promise in transition, with Bates scoring the initial points on a fast break. However, despite efforts like a reverse dunk from 7-foot-5 center Connor Vanover, the team struggled to maintain momentum. Coach Dennis Gates experimented with different lineup options, including Aidan Shaw at the five, but the Tigers could not overcome the Gators’ double-big system.
