The play didn’t materially affect the outcome Wednesday at Mississippi State’s Humphrey Coliseum, but the symbolism was unmistakable for Missouri.
After drawing a quick foul on Bulldogs sophomore guard Quinndary Weatherspoon and snagging two offensive rebounds on the opening possession of the second half, junior forward Jordan Barnett lowered a shoulder and drove hard from the left wing.
He withstood a slap on the wrist from Mississippi State sophomore forward Aric Holman and got a shot up on the rim, where the ball rolled around, then settled on the back iron and stopped.
The hot-shooting Tigers led by four points at halftime, but their momentum — like Barnett’s layup try — stalled early in the second half.