Missouri 82, South Carolina 74: Jabari Brown scored 24 points to go with a career-high six assists as the host Tigers held on for a Southeastern Conference victory over the Gamecocks.
Jordan Clarkson added 22 points and Earnest Ross chipped in 14 for Missouri (15-4, 3-3 SEC), which improved to 43-2 at home under coach Frank Haith. The Tigers shot 54.2 percent from the field and dished out a season-high 18 assists on their 26 field goals.
Brenton Williams poured in a season-best 32 points on 8-of-16 shooting for South Carolina (7-12, 0-6), hitting seven 3-pointers. Michael Carrera collected 16 points and 11 rebounds and Sindarius Thornwell added 14 points.
Missouri scored the game's first 11 points and rattled off a 16-point run later in the first half en route to a 38-22 lead at the break. Ross scored 12 points in the first half, including a 3-point play to cap the 16-0 spurt and put the Tigers ahead 38-18 with less than two minutes left in the half.
The Gamecocks used a 9-1 burst — capped by Carrera's four-point play — to pull within 42-31 less than two minutes into the second half but Clarkson and Brown answered with back-to-back 3-pointers to squelch the rally. South Carolina climbed within six when Thornwell and Carrera each scored five points during a 12-2 run, but Missouri made enough free throws down the stretch to hold on.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Missouri improved to 18-2 in games following a loss under Haith. … Williams went 9-for-9 from the foul line, improving to 59-for-60 on the season — best in the nation. … Brown and Clarkson both have scored in double figures in all 19 games this season, the longest streak to open a season for a Tiger since Kareem Rush did it in the first 21 contests of the 2000-01 campaign.
South Carolina | Missouri | |
Brenton Williams 32 | Scoring | Jabari Brown 24 |
Sindarius Thornwell 4 | Assists | Jabari Brown 6 |
Michael Carrera 11 | Rebounds | Jabari Brown 6 |
Brenton Williams 9 | Free Throws Made | Jordan Clarkson 8 |
Brenton Williams 3 | Steals | Jordan Clarkson 2 |
Michael Carrera 1 | Blocks | Ryan Rosburg 2 |
Team | Points | FG% | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA | Assists | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Turnovers |
South Carolina | 74 | 39.0 | 10-26 | 18-22 | 12 | 31 | 2 | 5 | 11 |
Missouri | 82 | 54.2 | 8-17 | 22-33 | 18 | 31 | 3 | 2 | 11 |