After each Tiger game, we take a look at the highs and lows. Here's the report from Tuesday's 79-60 loss to Arizona.
RELATED LINKS: In-Game Analysis | Post-Game Video
TURNING POINT: With 15:44 to play, Missouri trailed 45-41 and Russell Woods elevated for a dunk. The basket would have cut the Arizona lead to one possession for the first time since it was 2-0. But it bounced off the back iron and Frankie Hughes missed the follow-up. From that point, Arizona went on a 26-4 run, including a 21-0 spurt, stretching the lead to 71-45 and ending any hopes Missouri had at the upset.
IT WAS OVER WHEN: Some time during that 26-4 run. You can pick the point. At 54-45, the Wildcats hit three-pointers on three consecutive possessions. The first came from Rawle Alkins, who had already made three. K.J. Walton sagged off Alkins to help in the post, leaving Arizona's best shooter open for a triple that made it 58-45. Missouri had come back from one double-digit deficit once, but the chances of doing it again were very, very slight.
CAUSE FOR OPTIMISM: Missouri doesn't play Arizona again? Other than that, they stayed close for a while. Also Jordan Barnett is eligible next game. But unless Barnett is an all-SEC player, it's gonna take more than that.
CAUSE FOR CONCERN: This was the one chance to convince people to show up. Whether you believe the 10,051 that was announced or the 7,532 that was estimated in the official box score, the Tigers got their biggest crowd of the season. And it was loud at times. The fans who were here spent 40 minutes looking for a reason to get excited. But they didn't get it. It wasn't a full house, but Missouri fans showed up. With what they witnessed--and the lack of anything approaching an exciting home game outside of Kentucky--it's hard to see them coming back in any sort of volume this season.
STOCK UP: Kevin Puryear. He wasn't fantastic but did have 11 points and seven rebounds and was (and is) Missouri's best player. Puryear is willing to take the ball to the glass and draw contact and capable of making free throws when it happens. The Tigers need to run much more of the offense through him going forward.
STOCK DOWN: Shooting. It's hard for the stock to be a lot lower than it's been, but Mizzou made one shot in the first 13:36 of the second half (a Puryear three). They take some bad shots, but even good shots they don't make very often. Missouri shot 26% in the second half and 32% for the game. You wouldn't beat Northern Arizona with those numbers, much less actual Arizona.
UP NEXT: Missouri has a week off for finals before facing Eastern Illinois next Saturday afternoon at 2:30. The Panthers are 5-4 this season and face Western Illinois this afternoon.
