Written by Austin Fackler
Orlando, FL - Missouri played a well-rounded game in which they collected 14 offensive rebounds and that 3 of their 5-starters score in double digits as Jordan Barnett led the way for the Tigers with 19 points and 9 rebounds as the Tigers won their second game of the tournament by the score of 90-82 over a tough St. Johns team.
Missouri and St. Johns, both coming off first round wins in the Advocare Invitational came out in their second game of the tournament strong, exchanging baskets in the first five minutes. The big story of the first half was Missouri creating a lot of second chance opportunities racking up 10 offensive rebounds, those rebounds led to 13 second chance points.
The Tigers then went on a 13-2 help open up a twelve-point lead with 9:52 to play in the first half. St. Johns trailed as much as 16 with 6:11 remaining in the first but Shamorie Ponds and the Red Storm offense got it going and went on a 14-5 run to close out the half and cut the Tigers lead to just 6 at halftime. Kevin Puryear lead the Tigers with 11 Points as Shamorie Ponds was St. John’s leading scorer with 18 at the half.
St. John’s came out of the half hot, going on a quick 6-2 run to tie the game up at 44 and their defense was not letting up either, forcing Missouri into 5 turnovers in the first 5 minutes. Missouri would not go away though after St. Johns took an 8-point lead with 11:55 remaining in the game.The Tigers went on a 13-4 run to take a 63-62 lead with 8:39 left to play in the game. Both teams were trading shots like prize fighters as the lead changed hands 7 times in the last 9 minutes of the game.
Missouri Tigers Head coach Cuonzo Martin said the game, “Was a great test for us and I’m just happy for our guys, the way they competed got down 8 I think and we went to the zone and I have always been hesitant to do that but we spent time on it so it worked out for us today.”
Missouri would start to pull away down the stretch, expanding their lead to 10 with 52 seconds left. That would be all she wrote as the Tigers win clichéd them a spot in the championship game Sunday where they will face off against 20th ranked West Virginia. St Johns will face off against UCF in the 3rd place consolidation game.
Missouri and St. Johns, both coming off first round wins in the Advocare Invitational came out in their second game of the tournament strong, exchanging baskets in the first five minutes. The big story of the first half was Missouri creating a lot of second chance opportunities racking up 10 offensive rebounds, those rebounds led to 13 second chance points.
The Tigers then went on a 13-2 help open up a twelve-point lead with 9:52 to play in the first half. St. Johns trailed as much as 16 with 6:11 remaining in the first but Shamorie Ponds and the Red Storm offense got it going and went on a 14-5 run to close out the half and cut the Tigers lead to just 6 at halftime. Kevin Puryear lead the Tigers with 11 Points as Shamorie Ponds was St. John’s leading scorer with 18 at the half.
St. John’s came out of the half hot, going on a quick 6-2 run to tie the game up at 44 and their defense was not letting up either, forcing Missouri into 5 turnovers in the first 5 minutes. Missouri would not go away though after St. Johns took an 8-point lead with 11:55 remaining in the game.The Tigers went on a 13-4 run to take a 63-62 lead with 8:39 left to play in the game. Both teams were trading shots like prize fighters as the lead changed hands 7 times in the last 9 minutes of the game.
Missouri Tigers Head coach Cuonzo Martin said the game, “Was a great test for us and I’m just happy for our guys, the way they competed got down 8 I think and we went to the zone and I have always been hesitant to do that but we spent time on it so it worked out for us today.”
Missouri would start to pull away down the stretch, expanding their lead to 10 with 52 seconds left. That would be all she wrote as the Tigers win clichéd them a spot in the championship game Sunday where they will face off against 20th ranked West Virginia. St Johns will face off against UCF in the 3rd place consolidation game.