No. 14 Missouri proves too strong for South Carolina

Caleb Grill scored 22 points as No. 14 Missouri routed South Carolina 101-71 Tuesday night in Columbia, Mo.

Anthony Robinson II had 14 points and eight assists for the Tigers (21-7, 10-5 Southeastern Conference), who improved to 18-1 at Mizzou Arena this season.

Mark Mitchell and Tony Perkins each scored 13 points for Missouri. Tamar Bates scored 11 and Jacob Crews added 10.

The Tigers shot 63.5 percent from the floor (40 of 63) and made 11 of 19 shots from 3-point range (57.9 percent). Missouri used 13 players and 10 of them scored.

Collin Murray-Boyles scored 27 points and Jamarii Thomas added 17 for the Gamecocks (11-17, 1-14).

South Carolina turned the ball over 15 times and missed 21 of 23 shots from 3-point range (8.7 percent).

After Thomas hit a 3-point jumper to put the Gamecocks up 7-6, the Tigers broke loose for a 23-6 run.

Mitchell converted a traditional three-point play at the rim, then Grill hit 3-point jumpers on consecutive possessions to get it rolling.

Crews came off the bench to hit consecutive 3-pointers in transition from the left wing to sustain the surge.

Trent Pierce pushed the lead to 34-17 with a contested 3-pointer jumper before Zachary Davis countered with a 3-pointer to steady South Carolina.

The teams traded baskets for the rest of the half, with Missouri emerging with a 52-37 lead on the strength of 60.6 shooting from the floor -- and 6-for-11 shooting from 3-point range.

Murray-Boyles kept the Gamecocks in the game during the first 20 minutes by scoring 17 points on 7-for-7 shooting from the floor and 3-for-3 from the foul line.

Missouri opened the second half with an 8-2 run, with Robinson scoring two baskets, to extend its lead to 60-39.

The Gamecocks never got closer than 17 points for the rest of the way. Robinson, Perkins and Grill combined to score 26 points for Missouri in the final 20 minutes.

--Field Level Media