Men’s Basketball Rallies Past LSU for 81-76 Victory

Baton Rouge, La. – The Missouri men’s basketball team overcame a 19-point deficit to earn a key road conference victory at LSU on Wednesday night, 81-76. With the win, the Tigers remain in contention for a double bye in the SEC Tournament, improving to 22-8 overall and 10-7 versus league foes.

Mizzou trailed by as many as 19 points in the first half but a late mini run to end the first and a strong start to the second led to the team’s largest comeback this season. Overall, MU outscored LSU, 47-29, in the second stanza to reach double-digit SEC wins.

Graduate student D’Moi Hodge led Mizzou with 23 points on the night, which included a 5-of-11 performance from 3-point range. The guard also added five steals to break the single-season record at Mizzou. Hodge raised his total to 78, surpassing the previous mark of 76, set by Lynn Hardy in 1986-87.

Classmate DeAndre Gholston added 20 points – making 7-of-12 field goals – while senior Noah Carter also scored in double figures with 13 points to go with a team-best seven rebounds. Senior Sean East II paced the Mizzou attack with six assists on the night.

LSU started the contest on fire from beyond the arc to grab an early advantage. The hosts raced to a 13-2 lead and would make 11 of its first 14 from 3-point range to grab an advantage as large as 19 points, 43-24. Overall, 11 of LSU’s 12 made field goals in the first half were triples but a late 10-4 Mizzou run to end the period pulled MU within 13 at the break, 47-34.

Missouri carried over its momentum into the second half, quickly outscoring the hosts, 11-2, in the first 2:23 to start the stanza to pull within four points, 49-45. LSU maintained its advantage until just over 11 minutes remaining when Hodge capped an 8-0 run in style. The guard hit back-to-back 3-pointers with his record-breaking steal sandwiched around the two triples as Mizzou tied the game at 59.

LSU would pull back in front but MU had one last push in itself. Trailing by six points, 72-66, with over five minutes remaining, Mizzou outscored the hosts, 13-2, over the next five minutes to move in front, 79-74. Hodge gave MU its first lead of the game with just over 90 seconds left, 77-74, with his fifth 3-pointer of the game, while Mizozu forced LSU to miss six of its final seven shots. MU then hit its free throws late to secure its first-ever win at Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

Mizzou made 46.0 percent of its field goals, including a 51.5 percent clip in the second half. MU also forced 16 LSU turnovers and finished with a 20-2 edge in points off turnovers and a 32-12 edge in the paint.

UP NEXT
The Tigers wrap up the regular season with a home game on Saturday. Senior Day ceremonies will follow Mizzou’s game against Ole Miss with a 2:30 p.m. first tip.