(Photo Credit: Jeff Blake-USA Today Sports)
On a night that featured just eight scholarship players for the second straight game the Missouri Tigers came up empty yet again. South Carolina’s Sindarius Thornwell and Laimonas Chatkevicius combined for 27 points and 13 boards powering the Gamecocks to 65-60 victory.
Tramaine Isabell, Namon Wright, and Monteque Gill-Caesar all remain suspended and did not travel with the team to South Carolina. This factored in to the Tigers loss, though as Wes Clark stated last game is no excuse.
Missouri per the usual got out to a rough start hitting a mediocre 12 percent from the field to start the game connecting on just one of its first eight attempts. This allowed the Gamecocks to build a 12-2 lead out of the gate.
Keith Shamburger brought Missouri back into the game with a quick eight points to pull within a pair 14-12. The Tigers finally tied it up at 30-30 right before the break when Jakeenan Gant tallied two of his seven points.
In the second half the game remained relatively close as Johnathan Williams III gave Missouri its only lead on the night with a jumper to start the second frame. Williams III registered a team high 11 points and nine rebounds for the game.
The Gamecocks cranked up the momentum with a 9-2 run later in the half to build a steady lead 52-42. The Tigers cut the deficit to three with less than three remaining, but were unable to complete the comeback as the Gamecocks walked away with the 65-60 victory.
The Tigers made a solid effort down the stretch with three-pointers coming from Williams III and D’Angelo Allen, but mental errors throughout ended up costing Missouri once more as it has now lost 10 straight. To make matters worse Clark had to leave the game in the second half with a dislocated elbow.
Up next for the Tigers will be a home game as they play host to Mississippi State on Saturday.
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