Last year’s Braggin’ Rights matchup saw Mizzou dominate Illinois 93-71. The Tigers did everything the Illini didn’t; the offense effectively moved like a knife through butter, while Illinois went on multiple shooting droughts in the contest.
This year, Illinois completely flipped the script. They were the ones consistently getting looks in rhythm and quality ball movement. In contrast, the Tigers couldn’t get much going on the offensive end. By the time the final buzzer sounded, the orange side of the Enterprise Center was jolly and cheerful, as Illinois picked up a huge 97-73 win.
It’s a big rivalry victory for Illinois head coach Brad Underwood, who had dropped four of the previous five games against the Tigers. The Illini entered this year’s Braggin’ Rights matchup with its highest ranking in 11 years and showed the Tigers why they’re at that spot.
“It’s pretty nice to have 23 year olds that have been in the weight room for five years,” Underwood said. “I’ve said many times with this group, their attention to detail is really, really good. I hope it relays to our fans our connectivity and our togetherness.”
Seventeen three-point attempts from Mizzou resulted in a grand total of one make by senior guard Sean East. Tamar Bates and Noah Carter each chipped in six points a piece in the first stanza, both team leaders in that department.
The Tigers’ offensive stallings were also a constant in the first half, with multiple scoring droughts lasting north of three minutes. Mizzou was able to turn around its poor offense in its comeback win against Minnesota, but not against this No. 14 ranked Big Ten opponent.
Three players for Illinois had over ten points by the end of the first half, including senior guard Terrence Shannon Jr. with 17. At the end of the first 20 minutes, Illinois led 49-24.
“That’s why I think [Illinois] is a final four team, ” Mizzou coach Dennis Gates said. “They have skill all over the court. They have guys that can play in versatile ways. They are battle tested.”
Mizzou freshman Trent Pierce made his first appearance in the starting lineup and, despite a quiet first half, came out on a positive note in half two, scoring five quick points. East got off to a better start in the first seven minutes of the second stanza, hitting the squad’s second triple, ending the three-point drought that had lasted since the first five minutes of half number one.
“I think I played really well going out there and this being my first game starting,” Pierce said. “Going into the game, I was just looking to play physical and play hard, and I thought I went out there and did that.”
The Tigers weren’t able to do much more than trade with the Ilini for the first seven minutes of the second half. The Illinois lead was eventually cut to less than 20 with 11 minutes to play after an 8-0 run in 90 seconds.
The Tigers defense also stifled the UI’s powerful offense for a four-minute stretch, as Illinois shot 0/5 in this sequence. Jesus Carralero Martin provided a three-pointer that cut the lead to 18, and the Mizzou side of the arena got the loudest it had been since the Tigers won the cheerleader statue of liberty in the first half.
In the end, the deficit was too much for the Tigers to overcome, as the loss increased their losing streak to three, a first for Dennis Gates since his arrival last year at Mizzou. This also marks the third straight Braggin’ Rights contest decided by 20 points or more.
Mizzou (7-5) will look to bounce back from this defeat in its last non-conference game against Central Arkansas in Columbia. Illinois (9-2) will travel back to Champaign to face off against Fairleigh Dickinson and extend its winning streak to nine.