Namon Wright helped Mizzou snap its school-record 13-game losing streak scoring a career-high 28 points on 10-of-13 shooting to lead the Tigers past Florida 64-52.
Wright scored seven points in the first 4:27, as the Tigers built a six-point lead in the first half. Then the Tigers went on a five-minute scoring drought and Florida took a 31-27 halftime lead after the Gators scored six of the final eight points.
Wright started the second half much like he did the first, by scoring Missouri’s first 10 points in the first four minutes to give the Tigers a 37-35 lead. The Gators answered with a 9-0 run, but the Tigers went on an 11-1 run to take a 48-45 lead.
Things finally went right for the Tigers. This time the opponent was playing short-handed. Florida played without its two leading scorers for a third consecutive game, with junior Michael Frazier II still nursing a high ankle sprain and junior Dorian Finney-Smith remaining suspended for an undisclosed violation of team rules. The Gators struggled from the line hitting just 9 of 23 attempts from the free throw line, and finished 19 of 48 (39.6 percent) overall.
