Despite the absence of two starters, Missouri appeared equipped to handle Texas A&M on Saturday.
But a second-half collapse and a blown 12-point lead cost Missouri (11-11, 2-8 SEC) one of its most winnable games on the schedule in a 68-59 loss to Texas A&M (9-13, 2-8 SEC).
Missouri’s bench was very short on Saturday as sophomore Mark Smith missed his fifth straight game with an ankle injury, while sophomore Jeremiah Tilmon was out after undergoing emergency oral surgery. The Tigers had just eight scholarship players plus walk-on Ronnie Suggs available at tipoff.
Junior Reed Nikko got his first career start in Tilmon’s absence and provided an early spark for MU on offense with six points and three rebounds in the first half.