Mizzou Hoops drops SEC opener at Kentucky, 71-59

Coming off a 91 point performance, Missouri opened up SEC play against the #17 ranked Kentucky Wildcats. A hot start and early eight point lead quickly slipped away as Kentucky went on a 12-0 run, taking a lead they would not relinquish.

Missouri found itself down eight with under three to go in the first. The Wildcats largely shut down the Mizzou offense, with Kobe Brown leading the Tigers with seven first half points. Kentucky post Nick Richards was a one-man wrecking crew, attacking a foul plagued Missouri front court and led the Wildcats with 17 of their 31 first half points. He nearly double doubled in the first with seven boards. Richards drew five fouls and was clearly the Tigers’ biggest problem.

Going into the second half, Torrence Watson buried corner three to bring the Tigers within four, but the Tigers couldn’t keep Kentucky off the foul line. Immanuel Quickley became the newest threat to the Tigers’ comeback hopes, rattling off 11 points in the first seven minutes. Jeremiah Tilmon got involved, drawing fouls and piecing together a quick five points. But the Tigers couldn’t get the stops they would have needed and the Wildcats’ lead grew larger. Missouri opens up league play with a loss, losing 59–71.