COLUMBIA, Mo. — Playing in its fourth SEC/Big 12 Challenge, No. 12 Mizzou won a hard-fought contest against TCU, 102-98 in overtime, on Saturday afternoon. Mizzou improved to 11-3 on the season. The Tigers capitalized on shooting 57.5 percent from the field and a season-high 47.8 percent clip from beyond the arc to move to 3-0 in games decided by less than five points.
Junior Xavier Pinson (Chicago, Ill.) scored a career-high 36 points, including a Mizzou Arena record-tying eight 3-pointers. Pinson's performance was in tandem with senior Jeremiah Tilmon (East St. Louis, Mo.), who scored a career-high 33 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, finishing with his second consecutive double-double and sixth in the last nine games.
Pinson and Tilmon become the first duo to score 30 or more points in a single game since Clarence Gilbert (43) and Kareem Rush (32) vs. Iowa State on Jan. 14, 2001.
After not holding a lead from the 2:38 mark of the first half, the Tigers took the lead in overtime, eclipsing 100 points to take the win. It was the first 100-point performance for Coach Martin's squad since December 2017 (100 vs. Green Bay).
Turning Point
The Tigers rallied back from a 12-point deficit with less than four minutes to play, finishing regulation with an 18-4 run. The streak was punctuated with a last-second 3-pointer from Pinson to force overtime. Mizzou continued to hold control into overtime, defending a late push by the Horned Frogs by sinking late free-throws to cement the victory.
Top Tigers
- Xavier Pinson netted a career-high 36 points, while going 8-for-13 from beyond the arc. It was the most points scored by a Tiger since 2006. He also tacked on four dimes and an assist to his final stat line.
- Jeremiah Tilmon scored a career-high 33 points shooting 13-for-16 on the floor. He snatched 11 boards, swatted three shots, and dished an assist.
- Kobe Brown scored seven points and grabbed a career-high 13 rebounds, including the key offensive rebound that led to the game-tying Pinson 3-pointer,
- Javon Pickett reached double figures in his first start of the season with 11 points.
Game Notes
- Mizzou's 102 points is the most in almost a decade, when the team also scored 102 against South Carolina State (2/17/12).
- Mizzou has finished with three or more players in double-figures in 11 of 14 games this season and four players with 10+ points in four games.
- Junior Xavier Pinson's career-high 36 points is the most by a Tiger since 1/16/06 (Thomas Gardner, 40 vs. Kansas). He finished in double figures for the 10th time this season.
- Pinson's career-high eight 3-pointers are the most by a Tiger since Torrence Watson (St. Louis, Mo.) drained eight against Chicago State (12/30/19).
- With three blocks in the contest, senior Jeremiah Tilmon took sole possession of 8th on Mizzou's all-time career blocks list with 98, surpassing Gary Leonard.
- In addition to his 21 points in the last outing against Auburn, Tilmon's 33 points made him the first player to score 20+ points in consecutive games since Pinson during the 2019-20 campaign.
- Tilmon notched his sixth double-double of the season, the most by a Tiger since Jonathan Williams III had seven double doubles in the 2014-15 season.
- Kobe Brown (Huntsville, Ala.) grabbed 12 boards in the contest, setting a new career-high.
Up Next
Mizzou will continue its homestand against SEC foe Kentucky. The Tigers and Wildcats will tip off at Mizzou Arena on Tuesday at 8 p.m. CT on ESPN.
