Missouri Tigers Kevin Puryear (L) and Jordan Barnett defend against Kentucky Wildcats Bam Adebya. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI
Lacking any support from their inside players, the Missouri Tigers managed to hang around with Kentucky until the closing minutes before finally falling to the 11th ranked Wildcats, 72-62 inside a half-filled, but raucous Mizzou Arena.
Terrence Phillips led Mizzou with a career-high 22 points, including 4-for-8 from three-point range. The rest of the team went 0-for-14. Neither team led by more than two possessions in the first half. Mizzou’s biggest lead came with 4:27 left in the first half when Jordan Barnett’s layup put the Tigers up 28-24. Kentucky closed out the half on a 7-2 run to lead 31-30 at the break.
Once Mizzou’s inside players got in foul trouble, the Wildcats controlled the glass, outrebounding the Tigers 26-12. With the game tied at 52, Kentucky finished the game on a 20-10 run.
Russell Woods and Reed Nikko fouled out. They combined for six points and six rebounds in a combined 24 minutes. Kevin Puryear finished with only four points on 1-of-11 shooting.
Kim Anderson post game