Missouri Overpowers South Carolina as Gamecocks Struggle to Keep Pace
For a brief moment, South Carolina fans had reason to celebrate after snapping their SEC losing streak. But any momentum was quickly halted as Missouri reasserted its dominance in a commanding 101-71 victory over the Gamecocks on Tuesday night.
“They played well. I just haven’t been on this side of giving up 100 points too often,” head coach Lamont Paris admitted in his postgame radio interview with 107.5 FM. “As a competitor, there has to be a place you go to that doesn’t allow that to happen, no matter what.”
Missouri’s Offensive Onslaught
Missouri (21-7, 10-5 SEC) wasted little time pulling away, stretching its lead to 18 points before halftime and maintaining control for nearly the entire game. The Tigers shot a blistering 63.5% from the field, leaving the Gamecocks (11-17, 1-14 SEC) struggling to keep up.
Despite the tough loss, Collin Murray-Boyles shined for South Carolina, scoring a game-high 27 points on 10-of-11 shooting (90.9%) while grabbing seven rebounds. Jamarii Thomas added 17 points, but South Carolina’s bench failed to make an impact, getting outscored 41-14 and not recording its first points until late in the second half.
A Missed Opportunity for a Strong Start
The Gamecocks initially held their own, limiting Missouri’s usual early-game scoring burst and keeping the deficit at just 11-9 in the opening minutes. However, Missouri soon found its rhythm.
After a brief South Carolina surge, the Tigers unleashed an 18-4 run, ballooning their lead to 29-13 midway through the first half. Costly turnovers—15 in total, leading to 20 Missouri points—allowed the Tigers to take full control. By halftime, Missouri led 52-37, fueled by a scorching 60% shooting from three.
The second half brought more of the same, as Missouri opened with an 8-2 run, followed by another 9-0 surge that extended the lead to 32 points. The Tigers ultimately drained 11 three-pointers, while South Carolina struggled from deep, hitting just 2-of-23 attempts (8.7%).
Murray-Boyles Continues to Impress
One of the few bright spots for South Carolina was the continued rise of Collin Murray-Boyles, who carried the offensive load. In the first half alone, he poured in 17 points on a perfect 7-for-7 shooting, along with six rebounds. His efforts didn’t go unnoticed by Missouri’s Caleb Grill.
“I feel like he scored every time he touched the ball,” Grill said in a postgame interview with ESPNU.
Despite his stellar performance, the difference in defensive intensity between South Carolina’s previous win over Texas and this loss was stark. Against Texas, the Gamecocks held their opponent to 29.6% shooting and just 22 points at halftime. Missouri, however, torched them for 60.6% shooting and 52 first-half points, proving too much to overcome.
Looking Ahead
South Carolina will look to rebound as they prepare for a trio of upcoming matchups:
- Saturday: vs Arkansas, 1 p.m. (SEC Network)
- March 4: vs Georgia, 6 p.m. (SEC Network)
- March 8: at Tennessee, 2 p.m. (SEC Network)
With just a few games left in the regular season, the Gamecocks will aim to regroup and finish on a strong note.
