Montague Gill-Caesar dribbles the ball against USC defenders. (photo/Mizzou Athletics)
The Missouri Tigers found themselves down by as many as 11 in the first half, yet on five different occasions, got the game to within one possession. As so many other finishes this season, the Tigers couldn’t find a way to get on top and eventually lose to the South Carolina Gamecocks, 64-53 in their first and only game of the SEC Tournament in Nashville.
At five different points in the second half, within a 12 minute period, Mizzou would scratch and claw their way back to within a possession of tying or taking the lead, but each time they would let USC answer.
32-29 with 18:47 to play.
35-32 with 16:32 to play.
44-41 with 11:32 to play.
49-47 with 8:52 to play.
52-50 with 6:42 to play.
Listen to the Mizzou postgame press conference
Sindarius Thornwell scored 18 points and tied his career-high with four, three-pointers for USC. Michael Carrera added 12 points for South Carolina.
Missouri (9-23) finishes the season having lost 16 of the Tigers’ final 18 games. Montaque Gill-Caesar finished with a team-high 10 points.
The last time Missouri finished with single digit wins was the 1966-67 season, when they went 3-22. The following season, Norm Stewart took over as head coach.