COLUMBIA, Mo. - Sophomore guard Tramaine Isabell (Seattle, Wash.) tied his career high in points with 17 in his first start of the season as Mizzou Men's Basketball (10-19, 3-13) fell to Texas A&M (22-7, 11-5) by a score of, 84-69, Saturday at Mizzou Arena.
Isabell, who also set a season-high in assists with five, fueled his big night by hitting a career-best seven field goals. Over his last four games, Isabell is averaging 12.5 points.
Senior forward Ryan Rosburg (Chesterfield, Mo.) scored 15 points, the fifth time in the past seven games he has scored 15 or more points. Rosburg added five rebounds and one assist while shooting 5-of-6 from the free throw line. Freshman guard Terrence Phillips (Los Angeles, Calif.) led the team in rebounds with a season-high 10 boards.
The first half was a back-and-forth affair with nine lead changes in the first nine minutes. Rosburg led the Tigers with 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting, and Phillips led the team with six rebounds through the first 20 minutes of play.
The highlight of the first half belonged to Isabell. With the shot clock winding down, freshman guard Cullen VanLeer (Pacific, Mo.) slid a behind-the-back pass to Isabell who drilled home a three-pointer as the shot clock hit zero. The bucket cut the Aggies lead to 27-25 with 7:22 left in the opening half, but Texas A&M finished the half strong and led 50-33 at the break.
Mizzou outscored the Aggies 36-34 in the second half thanks to a late three-pointer by redshirt sophomore guard Jimmy Barton (St. Louis, Mo.). The Missouri native splashed home the second long range shot of his career, and his second in as many games.
The Tigers shot the ball well from the free throw line in the second half, connecting on 9-of-10 attempts. Freshman forward Kevin Puryear (Blue Springs, Mo.) was responsible for four of those makes as he shot a perfect 4-of-4 from the line in the second half.
Mizzou next hits the road for the final time this season, heading to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to face LSU on Tuesday. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. CT and can be seen live on the SEC Network.
The Tigers will honor Rosburg on Senior Night at Mizzou Arena on Saturday, March 5, as Mizzou hosts Florida to close the 2015-16 season. Tipoff is slated for 6:30 p.m. with coverage on the SEC Network.
