The Missouri Tigers 2023 season has followed nearly the same script in SEC play — always competitive enough to keep it close, but not enough to finish. Saturday against South Carolina was no different. The Tigers fell 64-72 to the Gamecocks, remaining winless through seven games of conference play.
Missouri has often fell behind in the middle minutes of the first half. Against Texas A&M on Tuesday, the Tigers were outscored 23-2 from the 13th to the 3rd minute of the first half. Against South Carolina, Missouri was shut down offensively and could not find a way to contain the Gamecocks’ diverse scoring attack. This led to Missouri being outscored 16-3 from minute 14 to 8. Following the drought, Missouri shifted to a 2-3 zone defense that effectively limited South Carolina’s inside attack but allowed openings outside the arc, where South Carolina landed three shots from in the half.
The Missouri offense was able to bring the Tigers back into striking distance in the final minutes of the first half, with a three-point make from Nick Honor bringing the Missouri deficit to four points with 2:51 remaining in the half. But the Tigers’ offense never found much of a flow or rhythm throughout the game. No Missouri player besides Sean East had a single assist in the half.