Mark Mitchell’s Dominant Performance Leads No. 21 Mizzou Past Oklahoma
The No. 21 Missouri Tigers snapped a two-game losing streak with a commanding 82-58 victory over the Oklahoma Sooners, showcasing strong performances on both ends of the court.
When their 3-point shooting was largely ineffective, Missouri turned to a simple yet effective solution: attacking the paint. Despite only making 4-of-12 from beyond the arc, the Tigers dominated inside, finishing with 40 points in the paint and hitting an impressive 26-of-35 free throws.
Mark Mitchell was the standout for Missouri, scoring a career-high 25 points and grabbing seven rebounds. He was a force at the free-throw line, making 13-of-18 attempts. This performance helped him become the third Tiger of the season to surpass 1,000 career points.
Mitchell’s motivation came after a challenging game against Texas A&M, where coach Dennis Gates pointed out his need to improve his rebounding. Mitchell responded to the challenge with a strong all-around performance.
With the defense focused on Caleb Grill’s 3-point shooting, he adapted by driving to the basket. Grill finished with 15 points and five rebounds, including 3-of-4 from beyond the arc in the second half, as the Tigers extended their lead.
On the defensive side, Missouri smothered Oklahoma, holding them to 31% shooting overall and just 23% from three. The Tigers forced 17 turnovers, with Tony Perkins contributing five steals, along with 12 points and four rebounds. The defense also stifled Jalon Moore, limiting him to 10 points on 3-of-14 shooting.
Freshman Jeremiah Fears struggled, finishing with eight points and seven rebounds on 3-of-13 shooting, as Missouri threw multiple defensive schemes his way.
Missouri’s balanced effort, especially from Mitchell and their defense, allowed them to dominate Oklahoma. With the win, the Tigers improve to 18-6 overall and 7-4 in the SEC, while Oklahoma falls to 16-8 and 3-8 in conference play.
The Tigers’ fast start was fueled by early baskets from Mitchell and Anthony Robinson II. Mitchell’s dominance inside helped Missouri establish an early lead. By halftime, the Tigers were in control with a 44-24 lead, thanks to Mitchell’s 19 points and solid free-throw shooting.
In the second half, Missouri maintained control, despite a brief run from Oklahoma that cut the deficit to 56-40. Grill’s two back-to-back 3-pointers helped push the lead to 67-42, and Missouri cruised to the finish, closing out the game effectively.
With the win in hand, the Tigers will look to carry their momentum into their next road game against Georgia on Saturday at 2:30 p.m.
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