Missouri Basketball’s Road Struggles Continue with Frustrating Loss to LSU
Missouri’s SEC road trip has taken a turn no one expected. If you’d said the Tigers would start 1-2 away from home, most fans would’ve bet the lone win came against a rebuilding Ole Miss or an underperforming LSU squad-not powerhouse Kentucky.
But here we are. Mizzou’s only road win so far came at Rupp Arena, and instead of building on that momentum, they’ve stumbled against teams still searching for their identity.
Let’s start with Ole Miss. Sure, that loss stung in the moment, but in hindsight, it's a little easier to swallow.
The Rebels have since picked up solid road wins at Georgia and Mississippi State, and head coach Chris Beard has a track record of figuring things out midseason. So maybe that one’s more about timing.
But LSU? That’s a different story.
The Tigers walked into Baton Rouge facing a team that hadn’t won an SEC game, was missing its starting point guard and leading scorer in Dedan Thomas, and ranked dead last in defensive efficiency in conference play. And yet, Missouri came out flat-ice cold, in fact.
They missed their first seven shots, turned the ball over twice, and didn’t put a single point on the board for nearly six minutes. Against a team that’s been struggling to find its footing, that kind of start is hard to justify.
LSU, for their part, didn’t exactly run away with it early. Missouri was fortunate that the Bayou Bengals didn’t capitalize more on the slow start-they were only up 10 when Mizzou finally got on the board.
But that’s where the frustration really sets in. This wasn’t just a rough start that turned into a gritty comeback.
Missouri never found a rhythm.
The biggest thorn in their side? Marquel Sutton.
The senior transfer from Omaha torched the Tigers in the first half, dropping 19 points and hitting 7-of-8 from the free throw line. Mizzou never found an answer for him.
And even when they made a push in the second half, LSU had a counter every time.
Whenever Missouri clawed back within striking distance, someone in purple and gold stepped up with a big shot. When T.O.
Barrett sliced the lead to three with a layup, Pablo Tamba-who had made just four threes all season-buried one to push it back to six. Later, after Barrett hit a pair of free throws to cut it to three again, Rashad King, a 26.7% shooter from deep, hit a backbreaking triple to stretch the lead once more.
It was that kind of night. LSU didn’t dominate, but they made just enough timely shots to keep Missouri at arm’s length. And Mizzou didn’t help themselves.
Team Stats: The Same Old Story
Free throws haven’t been Missouri’s friend this season, but oddly enough, they were solid from the line in Baton Rouge-hitting 80% after a rough outing at Ole Miss. That’s the good news.
The rest? Not so much.
Rebounding was a major issue. LSU isn’t exactly a juggernaut on the glass-they’re middle of the pack in the SEC-but they outworked Missouri in this one.
The rebounding margin was eye-opening, especially considering Mizzou has held its own against better rebounding teams earlier this season. Call it regression, call it effort, but it was a problem.
Turnovers also reared their head again. Missouri coughed it up 12 times, and when you pair that with getting beat on the boards, it’s no surprise LSU ended up with 13 more shot attempts. That’s a tough hill to climb, no matter how well you shoot from the line.
Individual Performances: Searching for Consistency
Jayden Stone, Shawn Phillips, and Mark Mitchell led the way in the box score, but the performances behind the numbers tell a deeper story.
Let’s talk about Anthony Robinson II. After a strong showing against Florida, it looked like he might be turning the corner.
But that momentum came to a screeching halt. Robinson played just 17 minutes, finished with four points, three turnovers, and posted the worst plus-minus on the team.
Over his last four games, he’s averaging just six points. For a player who’s supposed to be a key piece in the rotation, that’s a concerning trend.
Missouri needs him to find his rhythm again-and fast.
On the flip side, T.O. Barrett continues to show flashes.
He finished with 11 points, five rebounds, and four assists. He was close to a complete game, but the five turnovers were a drag.
He’s making strides-his assist rate is climbing, his finishing around the rim is solid-but the turnover rate is still too high. If he can clean that up, he becomes a real asset moving forward.
Jayden Stone deserves credit for carrying much of the offensive load, but that’s also part of the problem. Stone is a capable scorer, no doubt, but when he’s using a quarter of the team’s possessions and logging 35+ minutes a night, it’s a sign the offense isn’t humming the way it should. He’s not the guy you want shouldering that much of the burden every night.
Mark Mitchell had a more active second half, but foul trouble limited his impact. LSU clearly keyed in on Mitchell and Robinson, and once they were neutralized, Missouri struggled to find consistent production elsewhere. When neither of those two are effective, this roster doesn’t have the depth to overcome it.
Interestingly, Missouri made a bit of a run with Trent Burns on the floor-something worth keeping an eye on. It’s not a coincidence. Burns brings size and energy, and while his minutes have been limited, his presence in that stretch stood out.
What’s Next
Missouri now heads back home for a critical two-game stretch. Georgia comes to town first-a team that’s spent time in the Top 25-and then it’s Oklahoma, a squad that’s been snakebitten in close games.
Both are winnable, but they’re also pivotal. With just one road win in the bank, protecting home court becomes essential if Mizzou wants to stay in the hunt in the SEC.
To get there, they’ll need more than just better shooting. They need smarter possessions, better rebounding, and fewer turnovers. And maybe a little shake-up in how the offense is distributed wouldn’t hurt either.
The Tigers have shown they can compete. That win at Kentucky wasn’t a fluke.
But consistency is the missing piece. If they can find it, this season still has plenty of promise.
But if the road woes continue, the SEC grind won’t get any easier.