COLOMBIA, Missouri – – Jeremiah Tilmon had 19 points and 10 rebounds in another efficient performance, and Missouri’s number 19 defeated South Carolina 81-70 on Tuesday night.
Tilmon, who came shooting 74% from the ground, leading the Southeast Conference, improved on that mark going 8 out of 11. Missouri (9-2, 3-2 SEC) had his best overall shooting performance with 58.3%.
Mark Smith scored 18 points and hit 3 to 5 in the Tigers 3-point range. Dru Smith added 16 points out of 5 out of 6 shots.
Reserve Keyshawn Bryant scored 19 points for South Carolina (3-4, 1-2) and Trey Anderson scored 17, also off the bench, as 45 of the Gamecocks’ points came from reserves.
Missouri jumped to a 10-0 lead and did not allow South Carolina to come close to five points the rest of the way.
The Tigers made 19 turnovers, but the Gamecocks scored only 18 points. South Carolina tied their record this season with 70 field shots, but made 38.6% of the shots. Gamecocks also had difficulties in the free throw line, going to 8 in 19 (42.1%).
MAN IN THE MIDDLE
Tilmon has become one of the SEC’s biggest bosses. The 1.80 m senior entered the game with a career-high average on points (16) and rebounds (7.8) during the league game. The duo Tuesday was fourth in six games.
BIG PICTURE
South Carolina: Coach Frank Martin returned to the sideline for the first time since his second positive COVID-19 test – he had already contracted the virus last summer – when assistant Bruce Shingler served as head coach during Martin’s absence . Tuesday was South Carolina’s second game in four days, after playing two games in 41 days due to a litany of problems with the COVID-19.
Missouri: Since an 11-day break due to problems with the COVID-19, the Tigers have achieved two consecutive double-digit wins. Missouri also broke the 80-point barrier for the fourth time this season, improving its record to 4-0 by doing so.
NEXT
South Carolina: hosts Auburn on Saturday.
Missouri: No. 6, Tennessee, on Saturday. The visiting Volunteers defeated the Tigers 73-53 on December 30.
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