Everything was out of sorts for the Missouri basketball team in Starkville, Mississippi — except the familiar result.
The Tigers tried out a new starting lineup in an unusually late start in a rare Friday game, but none of the changes could spark a victory at Mississippi State. Mizzou’s two untimely first-half turnovers ignited a rally the Bulldogs rarely relinquished in a 68-49 victory to snap their four-game losing streak.
More than anything else, Mississippi State’s frontcourt bullied the Tigers inside as the Bulldogs outscored MU in the paint 34-20.
“We didn’t do a great job with those bigs on the low block, keeping them off the block and blocking them out and being physical down there,” Tigers coach Cuonzo Martin said.