ORLANDO, Fla. - In an exciting semifinal matchup which featured seven ties and 11 lead changes, Mizzou Men's Basketball (5-1, 0-0 SEC) outlasted St. John's (5-1, 0-0 Big East), 90-82, Saturday at the HP Field House in Orlando, Florida. With the win, the Tigers advanced to the championship game on Sunday night where it will face the winner of West Virginia and UCF.
 
Balanced scoring was once again the story for Mizzou as five Tigers scored in double figures for the second consecutive game and third time this season. Senior forward Jordan Barnett (St. Louis, Mo.) paced Mizzou with 19 points (4-of-7 FG, 2-of-4 3 PT, 9-of-10 FT), and helped put away St. John's by converting 5-of-6 free throws in the game's closing minutes. Mizzou made a season-best 14 three-pointers in the game, led by senior forward Kassius Robertson (Toronto, Ontario), who connected on five triples in the game, including four in the second half.
 
Turning Point
 
Despite holding a 16-point lead in the first half, Mizzou found itself down eight points with the score at 58-50 with 12:20 to play. The Tigers responded with lethal shooting from beyond the three-point arc, drilling eight three-pointers in the game's final 12 minutes. A 9-0 run thanks to a three from freshman forward Jontay Porter (Columbia, Mo.) and two from Robertson spurred on the barrage and helped Mizzou regain the lead.
 
Mizzou connected on nine three pointers in the game's second frame, led by Robertson's four and Porter's three.
 
Top Tigers
 
Barnett found his shooting touch in the semifinal matchup as he paced the Tigers with 19 points and was exceptional from the charity stripe, connecting on a career-high 9-of-10 from the free throw line. Before today's game, Barnett had never made more than six free throws or attempted more than seven in a game. Barnett also blocked a career-high three shots in the game.
 
Barnett and junior guard Jordan Geist (Fort Wayne, Ind.) each led the team with nine rebounds. Geist has now grabbed three or more rebounds in five of six games and is averaging 4.3 rebounds per game. Geist also chipped in 11 points in the game, his second consecutive game in double figures.
 
Robertson matched his season-high with five triples in the game, the 11^th time in his career he has made at least five three-pointers. Robertson finished the game with 17 points and a team-high five assists.
 
Junior forward Kevin Puryear (Blue Springs, Mo.) recorded his 46^th career game in double-figures, scoring 15 points (4-of-11 FG, 1-of-3 3 PT, 6-of-7 FT) while grabbing five rebounds.
 
Porter posted his third-consecutive game in double-figures with 16 points (5-of-10 FG, 4-of-7 3 PT, 2-of-2 FT), while making a season-high four three-pointers and grabbing five rebounds. With two blocks in the game, Porter has now turned away a shot in five of six games this season.
 
Up Next
 
Mizzou will now play for the Advocare Invitational Championship on Sunday night at 9:30 p.m. ET / 8:30 p.m. CT, with the game to be aired on ESPN2. The Tigers will take on the winner of West Virginia and UCF.