COLUMBIA, Mo. - Mizzou Men's Basketball (18-8, 8-5 SEC) has won five consecutive conference games for the first time since 2011-12 after edging No. 21 Texas A&M, 62-58, Tuesday evening (Feb. 23) at Mizzou Arena. The Tigers improved to 5-2 against teams that were either ranked or receiving votes during SEC play and have won the last three such games, dating back to a road win at Alabama (Jan. 31).

The Tigers' defense was tremendous all night long against the Aggies, who were just one game removed from scoring 85 vs. Kentucky, their most in an SEC contest this season. Mizzou limited Texas A&M to just 58 points, snapping a streak of four-straight games over the 80-point mark for the Aggies. It was the lowest point total for the Aggies since Dec. 30 in a 79-57 loss at Alabama (a 12-game span).

After scoring just three points in the opening 20 minutes of action, reigning SEC Player of the Week Kassius Robertson (Toronto, Ontario) exploded for 13 points in the second half, including a big layup with 1:46 remaining in the game. He was one of four Tigers who scored in double-figures.

TURNING POINT

Mizzou's defense, which has been sterling under first-year head coach Cuonzo Martin, was again stellar midway through the second half as Mizzou pulled away from the No. 21-ranked Aggies. The Tigers held Texas A&M to just 1-for-8 shooting and four turnovers over a five-minute stretch that saw Mizzou's lead grow from five points at 34-29 to an 13-point edge at 47-34 with just over 10 minutes to play.

Texas A&M cut the lead to 57-54 after an 8-0 run in a span of 1:06 and got as close as 57-56. But Robertson hit a big-time, acrobatic layup on a hard take to the rim with 1:46 remaining to give Mizzou a 59-56 lead. With Mizzou then clinging to a 60-58 lead with less than a minute to play, the Tigers forced a shot-clock violation with 19.6 remaining. Mizzou fumbled the exchange on the ensuing in-bounds play and Texas A&M recovered the ball. Seconds later, an ally-oop pass to Aggie forward Robert Williams appeared to tie the game at 60-60, but it rimmed out. Freshman Jontay Porter (Columbia, Mo.) grabbed the rebound, his ninth of the game, and was promptly fouled. Porter sank both free throws on the other end to seal the win at 62-58.

TOP TIGERS

• Graduate senior guard Kassius Robertson scored 13 of his game-high 16 points following the intermission. Robertson is averaging 20.6 points per game over his last seven contests as he is creeping into the SEC Player of the Year discussion, nationally.
• Senior forward Jordan Barnett scored in double-digits for the 17^th time this season and second consecutive game, scoring 15 points. 
• Freshman center Jeremiah Tilmon played arguably his best game as a Tiger, matching his career-high with 14 points while hitting a career-high six free throws. He also grabbed three boards and added two blocked shots. It was his third double-digit scoring output in SEC play.
• Freshman forward Jontay Porter scored 11 points and grabbed nine boards. He hit the two free throws that put the game on ice with less than 10 seconds to play.

NOTES

• Mizzou Men's Basketball downed its third ranked team this season, the most wins against ranked opponents since the 2011-12 season, when the Tigers beat six of them. Mizzou has beaten then No. 21 Tennessee and No. 21 Kentucky. 
• Mizzou also extended its conference winning streak to five games, its longest such streak since 2011-12 when the Tigers reeled off seven-straight. 
• With the win, Mizzou moved to 5-2 in conference play against teams either ranked or receiving votes in the AP poll at the time of the matchup.
• Mizzou moved to 9-0 this season when leading at halftime. The Tigers held a 29-21 advantage at the intermission against the Aggies.
• Mizzou's defense held Texas A&M to 58 points, its lowest since Dec. 30 at Alabama while snapping a four-game streak of 80+ points for the Aggies.
• Mizzou registered 10 steals against A&M, tying the team's season high. The Tigers also had 10 steals against Stephen F. Austin on December 19.
• Since head coach Cuonzo Martin made a lineup change against Alabama on January 31, opting to start Cullen VanLeer and Kevin Puryear, the Tigers are a perfect 5-0.
• Mizzou held Texas A&M to just 20 points in the first half, the Aggies' lowest first half point total all season.
• Kassius Robertson's 79 three pointers this season are tied for the fourth-most ever by a senior at Mizzou in a single season. With his two made three-pointers against the Aggies, he moved past Kim English (78) and drew even with Paul O'Liney. 
• Robertson has now had seven consecutive games with multiple three-pointers.
• Freshman forward Jeremiah Tilmon scored 14 points, which tied his season high. It was Tilmon's ninth time in double-figures this season. It was his third such performance in conference play, and his first double-figure scoring game since playing at Alabama on January 31.
• Tilmon also set a new season-high in free throws made, putting down six attempts in the game.
• Freshman forward Jontay Porter scored in double-figures for the fifth-straight contest, scoring 11 points. Porter is averaging 13 points over Mizzou's five-game winning streak.
• The Tiger freshman bigs both scored in double-digits against the Aggies, moving Mizzou to 5-0 on the season when both Tilmon and Porter score in double figures.
• Senior forward Jordan Barnett had it working from beyond the arc, hitting on at least three three-pointers for the eighth time this season. It is his first such performance since he hit five shots from deep against Auburn (Jan. 24).

UP NEXT

Mizzou will face a big road opportunity at LSU on Saturday, Feb. 17, at 1 p.m. CT on ESPN2. For all the latest on Mizzou Basketball, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (@MizzouHoops).