Missouri Tigers at South Carolina Gamecocks
· NCAA Men's Basketball
54 - 76
Kotsar, South Carolina dismantle Missouri 76-54 on Saturday
The Gamecocks (13-8, 5-3 SEC) won for the fifth time in their past six league games after starting Southeastern Conference play 0-2.
The 6-foot-10 senior Kotsar was unstoppable at both ends of the floor for South Carolina. He made his first seven shots and had eight defensive boards in the opening half as the Gamecocks built a double-digit lead.
Missouri (10-11, 2-6), which rallied from 20 points down to beat Georgia last Thursday, cut a 16-point lead to 52-43 with 11 minutes left. But Kotsar hit two free throws and a short jumper to start a 9-0 run and restore the Gamecocks' comfortable margin.
It was Kotsar's second double-double this season and fourth of his career.
Jermaine Couisnard finished with 15 points and AJ Lawson 13 off three 3-pointers for South Carolina.
Xavier Pinson had three of Missouri's four 3-pointers and led the Tigers with 12 points.
Missouri has lost five of its past six games.
South Carolina has played strong defense during its recent run and that continued against Missouri.
The Gamecocks held the Tigers to 1-of-10 shooting on the way to an 11-3 start. Things only got worse for Missouri after that.
South Carolina scored on five of six possessions in the opening period to stretch things to 30-15 on T.J. Moss' 3-pointer.
The Gamecocks forced nine turnovers and had eight blocks the first 20 minutes. Kotsar was a huge part of South Carolina's defense with eight defensive rebounds, four blocks and a steal in his 10 minutes.
Tilmon has missed the past eight games with a stress fracture in his left foot.
THE BIG PICTURE
Missouri: The Tigers will struggle without the firepower of juniors Smith and Tilmon in the rotation. The two have combined for nearly 20 points and nine rebounds a game this season.
South Carolina: The Gamecocks are surging at the right time in order to make a run in the SEC. They have several winnable games this month and any hope of getting to the NCAA Tournament rests on them following a winning January with a more successful February.
UP NEXT
Missouri goes to Texas A&M on Tuesday night.
South Carolina plays at Ole Miss on Wednesday night.
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How can I watch Missouri vs. South Carolina?
Recent Plays
| 2nd 0:00 | End of Game | 54 - 76 |
| 2nd 0:08 | Tray Jackson made Dunk. Assisted by Xavier Pinson. | 54 - 76 |
| 2nd 0:38 | Mike Green made Three Point Jumper. Assisted by Trae Hannibal. | 52 - 76 |
| 2nd 0:42 | Trae Hannibal Steal. | 52 - 73 |
| 2nd 0:42 | Xavier Pinson Turnover. | 52 - 73 |
Statistics
 MIZ |
 SC |
|
|---|---|---|
| 19-58 | FG | 25-49 |
| 33 | Field Goal % | 51 |
| 4-19 | 3PT | 8-22 |
| 21 | Three Point % | 36 |
| 12-15 | FT | 18-32 |
| 80 | Free Throw % | 56 |
| 34 | Rebounds | 36 |
| 11 | Offensive Rebounds | 6 |
| 23 | Defensive Rebounds | 30 |
| 9 | Assists | 14 |
| 5 | Steals | 10 |
| 3 | Blocks | 9 |
| 17 | Turnovers | 11 |
| 0 | Team Turnovers | 1 |
| 17 | Total Turnovers | 11 |
| 0 | Technical Fouls | 0 |
| 0 | Total Technical Fouls | 0 |
| 0 | Flagrant Fouls | 0 |
| 9 | Points Off Turnovers | 22 |
| 0 | Fast Break Points | 12 |
| 24 | Points in Paint | 28 |
| 21 | Fouls | 17 |
| 0 | Largest Lead | 24 |
Game Information
Location: Columbia, SC
Attendance: 14,678 | Capacity:
2025-26 Southeastern Conference Standings
| TEAM | CONF | GB | OVER |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 16-2 | - | 27-8 |
| Arkansas | 13-5 | 3 | 28-9 |
| Alabama | 13-5 | 3 | 25-10 |
| Vanderbilt | 11-7 | 5 | 27-9 |
| Tennessee | 11-7 | 5 | 25-12 |
| Texas A&M | 11-7 | 5 | 22-12 |
| Georgia | 10-8 | 6 | 22-11 |
| Kentucky | 10-8 | 6 | 22-14 |
| Missouri | 10-8 | 6 | 20-13 |
| Texas | 9-9 | 7 | 21-15 |
| Auburn | 7-11 | 9 | 22-16 |
| Oklahoma | 7-11 | 9 | 21-16 |
| Mississippi State | 5-13 | 11 | 13-19 |
| Ole Miss | 4-14 | 12 | 15-20 |
| South Carolina | 4-14 | 12 | 13-19 |
| LSU | 3-15 | 13 | 15-17 |