Missouri didn’t just beat South Carolina on Wednesday night - they imposed their will from the opening tip and never looked back. In a game that saw the Tigers post their largest margin of victory in SEC play this season, Mizzou rolled to a 78-59 win, improving to 16-7 overall and 6-4 in conference. And while the final score tells part of the story, the way Missouri dominated the early minutes set the tone for everything that followed.
From the Jump: Total Control on the Glass
Sometimes, you can tell how a game’s going to go from the first possession - and that was exactly the case here. Missouri grabbed three offensive rebounds before South Carolina could even blink. That opening sequence was a preview of the physical mismatch that would define the night.
Shawn Phillips Jr. was a problem South Carolina simply had no answer for. His size and strength in the paint gave Missouri a clear edge, especially early on.
Mizzou didn’t even need to rely on the three-ball - they attempted just one triple in the first five minutes, and that came off a clean Mark Mitchell kick-out. Instead, they made their living on the boards and in the paint.
And on the other end? South Carolina couldn’t buy a bucket.
The Gamecocks went scoreless from the field for the first 5:01 of game time and were getting just one shot per trip. Missouri’s defense wasn’t just solid - it was suffocating.
Combine that with the Tigers’ relentless effort on the glass, and you’ve got a recipe for an early double-digit lead.
At one point midway through the first half, Missouri held an 18-6 advantage in rebounding. That’s not a stat - that’s a statement. Even with some sloppy turnovers threatening to slow their momentum, the Tigers’ dominance on the boards kept them in control.
Second Chances, First-Class Effort
By the final buzzer, the box score told the full story of Missouri’s dominance on the glass: a 44-28 rebounding edge, including 16 offensive boards. And they didn’t just collect those rebounds - they cashed them in. Missouri turned those 16 offensive rebounds into 16 second-chance points, a number that loomed large in a game where South Carolina never found a rhythm.
It wasn’t a perfect offensive night for the Tigers - the early shooting struggles and a stretch of turnover issues made sure of that - but when you’re getting second and third looks nearly every trip down the floor, you don’t need to be lights-out from deep. Mizzou’s physicality and effort were more than enough to carry them.
What’s Next
With this win, Missouri moves to 6-4 in the SEC and continues to build momentum as they head into a tough road test at Texas A&M. If they can bring the same energy on the boards and continue to assert themselves physically, they’ll be a tough out for anyone in the conference.
Bottom line: This was a statement win. Missouri didn’t just beat South Carolina - they controlled every facet of the game. And if this version of the Tigers shows up consistently, they’re going to make some serious noise down the stretch.