COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) – Missouri held Wofford without a field goal for the final
14 1/2 minutes, as the Tigers pulled away for a 75-56 victory on Monday.
Mark Smith led Missouri (3-1) with 19 points, Jeremiah Tilmon added 16 and
Xavier Pinson finished with 10 points. Nathan Hoover led the Terriers (2-3) with
21 points.
Tilmon, a junior forward, asserted himself early, he made the first 3-pointer
of his career, on his way to seven first-half points. The lead changed hands
six times in a back-and-forth first half before Dru Smith dished a nice pass to
Parker Braun for a layup and then muscled in for a leaning jumper to help the
Tigers take a 36-31 halftime lead.
Pinson helped the Tigers break the game open midway through the second half.
The game was tied at 45 when he created space with a crossover dribble and hit a
jumper. He fed Mark Smith for a 3-pointer. Then Pinson made a steal and swooped
in for a dunk. He added two free throws on the next possession to give the
Tigers a 54-45 lead with 11:05 left.
After shooting 50% from the field in the first half, Wofford made only 19%
after the break. The Terriers took a 45-43 lead on a Hoover basket with 14:35
left in the game but didn’t make another field goal. Storm Murphy finished with
10 points.
BIG PICTURE
Missouri: By playing Wofford, the Tigers got an idea how they might stack up
against Butler, a team they play next week in the Hall of Fame Classic in Kansas
City. Butler beat Wofford 80-61 on Saturday, the same margin as Missouri’s
victory over the Terriers.
UP NEXT
Missouri: The Tigers play Morehead State on Wednesday at home.
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