Men’s Basketball Drops Hard Fought Game to Texas A&M

COLUMBIA, Mo.  — The University of Missouri men’s basketball team couldn’t hold off a late comeback by Texas A&M, Saturday afternoon at Mizzou Arena. Mizzou (7-9, 1-3 SEC) led for 35 minutes of the game, but a late 8-0 run in the game put the Aggies ahead with the Tigers unable to take back the lead.

“All of our coaches did a great job with our scout,” said senior Javon Pickett.  “We knew everything – the ins and outs. I feel like we proved that in the beginning of the game. You know – we’ve got to go watch the film and see what we did wrong, watch though tough blows. That’s on us as players to go out there and execute on offense and defense.”

Jarron Coleman led the team with 14 points on 4-of-8 shooting, including a pair of three pointers. Coleman also tallied three assists, a steal and a block in his fifth-consecutive game with 10 or more points. Javon Pickett and DaJuan Gordon both scored 11 points.

Mizzou took a 12-0 run to open the game, holding Texas A&M (15-2, 4-0 SEC) scoreless for the first 8:53 of the contest. After hosting a 34-24 lead at halftime, the Aggies slowly chipped away at Mizzou’s lead throughout the second half. Texas A&M took its first lead in the ball game at 4:47 before entering a back-and-forth battle.

DaJuan Gordon tied the game, 61-61, at 2:06 with a pair of free throws, but a turnover was all A&M needed to force a trip to the free throw line. Sinking both of their shots, A&M held a 65-61 advantage. Coleman launched a three-pointer with the clock winding down to bring the game back within one, but Mizzou was unable to connect on its final shot attempt to tie the game.

GAME NOTES

• Kobe Brown played his fewest minutes in an SEC contest this season, with just 24, after early foul trouble. He finished the day with seven points and nine rebounds in addition to two steals.
• Trevon Brazile recorded four blocks in the contest, moving him to seventh on Mizzou’s freshman single-season blocks list. Brazile has recorded 22 on the season thus far through eight games.
• Coleman is averaging 13.8 points across Mizzou’s last five games.
• Mizzou shot 47.2 percent from the floor, its third best offense performance of the season. Two of the Tigers’ top-three have come in the last three games.
• The Tigers’ also recorded 16 assists, its third most of the season. The 16 assists came on 25 field goals, for a 64 percent clip.
• Texas A&M remains one of only two teams in the SEC to have an unblemished mark in conference play.

UP NEXT

Mizzou looks to kick its road woes to the curb, with two opportunities next week. The Tigers will first travel to Ole Miss Jan. 18 for a 6 p.m. tip on ESPNU.  

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