IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Just moments after the worst foul of her career, Drake’s Becca Hittner got her chance for redemption.

Hittner’s wide-open jumper as time expired instead clanked off the back of the rim, a cruel reminder that for every March buzzer-beater there’s a potential game winner that ends in anguish.

Jordan Roundtree hit a free throw after being fouled with 1.1 seconds left in overtime and seventh-seeded Missouri held off Drake 77-76 on Friday to advance to the NCAA Tournament’s round of 32 for the third time in four years.

“March is March,” Robin Pingeton said.

Sophie Cunningham scored 21 points and Cierra Porter had 18 for the Tigers (24-10), who can advance to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2001 with a win over second-seeded and host Iowa on Sunday.

The Tigers found Amber Smith open underneath for a 76-74 lead on a jumper with 20.8 seconds left, but Maddy Dean pulled Drake even at the line

Hittner then hit Roundtree’s shooting hand while she was attempting a desperation 3 after Missouri got caught trying to drain the clock. Roundtree missed the first free throw, hit the second and missed the third.

Had Hittner not committed that foul, Missouri would’ve been forced to go to a second overtime without Cunningham or Porter — both of whom had fouled out.

“The refs called it,” Hittner said. “I still got a good look at the end.”

It was a great look, in fact.

Drake got the rebound after Roundtree’s last miss and after two timeouts, miraculously got Hittner — a 40 percent shooter from beyond the arc — a wide-open look at the top of the key.

It bounced off the back of the iron.

“It looked good,” Cunningham said of Hittner’s shot. “Thankfully she missed it.”

Drake and Missouri each hit their first two 3s to start overtime, but Hittner’s 3 with 1:38 left gave the Bulldogs a 73-72 lead. Cunningham’s free throws put Missouri back on top with 53 seconds to go, but Drake’s Sara Rhine tied it the next time down the floor.

Hittner had 19 and Rhine chipped in with 18 points for Drake (27-7), which bowed out of the NCAA Tournament for the third year in a row.

“This one is really painful,” Drake coach Jennie Baranczyk said. “This is a tough one. It’s a really tough one.”

THE BIG PICTURE

MISSOURI: Cunningham, Porter and fellow senior starter Lauren Aldridge will get one more chance to advance in the NCAA Tournament against an Iowa team that played one of its worst games of the season on Friday. Missouri shouldn’t expect the Hawkeyes to repeat such a dreadful performance though. “I love these kids to death,” Cunningham said of her senior trio.

DRAKE: The Bulldogs were given an at-large bid after getting upset by Missouri State in the Valley final. They can argue about being under-seeded despite being ranked 21st before that defeat, but at some point Drake has to come through and win an NCAA Tournament game. The Bulldogs were within an inch of doing so at the overtime buzzer though.

THE NUMBERS

The game was tied 14 times and the lead changed hands 12 times. …The teams combined for 35 turnovers. …Drake was 12 of 26 on 3s. Hittner led the way, hitting 4 of 8 attempts beyond the arc. …Missouri made the most of its offensive rebounds, outscoring Drake by 10 on second-chance points.

SHE SAID IT

“Are you guys stressed out too?” Cunningham joked to open the post-game press conference.

— Associated Press —

ATLANTA, Ga. – Mizzou Women’s Basketball senior guard Sophie Cunningham (Columbia, Mo.) was named a Region 2 finalist for the Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Association All-America team, announced by the organization Thursday. It is third consecutive year Cunningham has been named a region finalist.

The Tiger senior helped lead Mizzou to its first conference tournament semifinal appearance since 1994 at this year’s SEC Tournament. Mizzou recorded wins over Florida (March 7) and Kentucky (March 8) in Greenville, S.C. In Mizzou’s semifinal matchup with Mississippi State (March 9), Cunningham scored 33 points to become Mizzou’s all-time scoring leader, as her 2,158 points surpassed Joni Davis’ (1981-85) mark of 2,126 points.

Cunningham was recently named to her third straight All-SEC First Team by the league’s coaches, becoming the first player in program history to earn All-Conference First Team honors in three consecutive seasons. In addition, Cunningham was named to the All-SEC First Team by the Associated Press for the second straight season.

The SEC’s active career scoring leader, Cunningham is averaging 18.0 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game. Her 82 three-pointers rank fifth in Mizzou single season history, while her 594 points rank seventh.

Cunningham finished the regular season ranked fourth in the SEC in scoring (17.3 ppg), third in three-point percentage (40.7), third in three-pointers per game (2.3) and third in free throw percentage (81.8). In conference play, she led the SEC in three-point shooting (46.5 percent) and threes per game (2.9). Cunningham has reached 20 points in 15 games this season, including 10 times against SEC opponents, and 30 points three times. Mizzou is 13-2 when she scores 20+, and 2-1 when she reaches 30 points.

The Tiger senior is one of three Mizzou players to score 2,000 career points. Among program records, Cunningham ranks first in scoring (2,158 points), first in free throws made (526), second in three-pointers made (235), second in three-point percentage (40.7), third in free throw percentage (83.6), fourth in points per game (17.0) and fourth in assists (384).

REGION 2

Chennedy Carter                 Texas A&M University

Sophie Cunningham            University of Missouri

Rennia Davis                         University of Tennessee

Reyna Frost                           Central Michigan University

Tyasha Harris                        University of South Carolina

Anriel Howard                      Mississippi State University

Rhyne Howard                      University of Kentucky

Presley Hudson                    Central Michigan University

Darby Maggard                     Belmont University

Teaira McCowan                  Mississippi State University

Maci Morris                          University of Kentucky

Caliya Robinson                    University of Georgia

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Women’s Basketball is headed back to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth consecutive season, earning a No. 7 seed in the Greensboro Region. Mizzou clinched its fourth consecutive berth to the Big Dance for the first time since 1983-86.

No. 7 Mizzou (23-10) will face No. 10 Drake (27-6) on Friday, March 22, in Iowa City. Tipoff is slated for approximately 3 p.m. CT on ESPN2. The winner will take on either No. 2 Iowa or No. 15 Mercer in the Second Round on Sunday, March 24.

With this season’s NCAA Tournament berth, Mizzou secured its 13th trip to the Big Dance, and the fourth under head coach Robin Pingeton. Mizzou’s No. 7 seed is its third-highest seeding in the NCAA Tournament since the field moved to 64 teams, trailing its No. 5 seed in 2018 and No. 6 seed in 2017. Mizzou also held a No. 3 seed in 1982 and a No. 4 seed in 1983 and 1984 when the field featured 32 teams.

It will be the fifth matchup between Mizzou and Drake, as the Bulldogs currently hold a 3-1 advantage in the all-time series. Mizzou is 1-5 all-time against Iowa and 0-0 against Mercer.

— Mizzou Athletics —

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Auburn guard Bryce Brown had to wait until his senior season to experience a victory at the Southeastern Conference Tournament.

Now he and his teammates want more.

Brown scored all 17 of his points in the second half, and No. 22 Auburn beat Missouri 81-71 Thursday in the second round of the Southeastern Conference Tournament.

Auburn (23-9) won its fifth straight to advance to the quarterfinals Friday against fourth-seeded South Carolina, and the Tigers also snapped a three-game skid at the SEC tournament dating back to 2015 when they reached the semifinals. That was before Brown arrived on campus.

“It definitely felt good to get our first SEC win,” Brown said. “It took me four years, my fourth match, my fourth year. … Me and Horace (Spencer) are going to do everything we can to make sure this team doesn’t go out on a sad note. We just want to end our senior season on a strong note.”

No. 12 seed Missouri (15-17) at least kept this game closer than the last game between these teams, a 34-point loss in Auburn on Jan. 30, and they even led by as much as four in the first half.

“I thought we were there, just didn’t have enough to get over the hump,” Missouri coach Cuonzo Martin said.

Auburn had to shake off a cold-shooting start by guards Jared Harper and Brown as they combined to miss their first 11 shots. Brown finally knocked down his seventh attempt with 16:02 left, and the senior strung together three straight 3s. The last came from the corner in front of his own bench, giving Auburn its biggest lead of the game at 49-39 with 14:44 to go.

Harper hit his first shot, a 3, with 3:12 left for a 71-63 lead. Harper finished with five points and five assists.

“This might be the first big game we’ve won where Jared Harper didn’t have to carry us,” Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said. “Missouri did a good job defensively on both Bryce and Jared and a lot of pressure on Jared to run the club, and biggest communicator defensively. He’s a leader and just a little off tonight.”

Chuma Okeke added 12 points for Auburn. Spencer had 11 points and 10 rebounds, and Malik Dunbar had 11 each.

Jordan Geist had a game-high 25 points for Missouri, and Torrence Watson matched his career high with 20.

Missouri kept Auburn from running away this time by shooting away outside the arc and making a season-high 15 3-pointers. Geist finished 6 of 9 from 3 himself and said the Tigers’ confidence has really grown the past couple games.

“We were taking what they were giving us and shooting the ball with confidence,” Geist said.

Auburn led 32-30 at halftime after Missouri made eight of its nine baskets outside the arc, and Xavier Pinson added a ninth to open the second and put Missouri back ahead. Missouri hit seven straight shots, the last a pair of 3s by Geist and then Watson’s, which tied it at 52 with 11:20 to go.

Spencer scored on a three-point play, Danjel Purifoy hit a 3 and Brown added his fourth 3 with 8:16 remaining to cap a quick 9-0 spurt. Missouri couldn’t get closer than four down the stretch but didn’t let Auburn lead by more than 10.

BIG PICTURE

Missouri: These Tigers head home waiting for next year and the chance to win more than just once at the SEC tournament. Missouri has never won back-to-back games since joining this league for the 2012-13 season, but at least coach Martin leaves Nashville with the program’s fourth SEC tournament win. But a couple key freshmen struggled with Javon Pickett held scoreless and Pinson struggling with eight turnovers.

Auburn: The Tigers will need more from Harper and Brown moving forward. Brown did hit all four of his 3-point attempts in the second half. But their defense came through, converting 14 turnovers into a 24-17 scoring edge. They also dominated inside, outscoring Missouri 30-16 in the paint.

QUOTABLE

“Frank Martin’s got my number,” Pearl said of facing South Carolina next. “Not just my phone number, but my number.”

UP NEXT

Missouri: The offseason. Martin said he would not accept an invite to the CBI tournament.

Auburn: South Carolina on Friday in the SEC quarterfinals.

— Associated Press —

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Missouri’s Jordan Geist isn’t ready for his college career to end just yet.

Geist scored a career-high 30 points and No. 12 seed Missouri outlasted No. 13 seed Georgia 71-61 on Wednesday in the opening round of the Southeastern Conference Tournament.

“I just tried to go out there and play my game,” the senior guard said. “When it all comes down to it, if I give my all, I don’t have anything to regret.”

Missouri (13-14) advanced to a second-round matchup Thursday with No. 22 Auburn (22-9), the fifth seed. Missouri lost 92-58 at Auburn on Jan. 30 in their only regular-season matchup.

After losing four straight games last month, Missouri (15-16) has bounced back to win three of its last four.

“Sometimes in losing, though it’s painful, it forces you to grow,” Missouri coach Cuonzo Martin said.

Missouri gained a measure of revenge after losing 62-60 to Georgia in last year’s SEC Tournament.

Georgia (11-21) finished the first season of Tom Crean’s coaching tenure with 12 losses in its last 13 games. The Bulldogs wasted a career-high 26 points from Jordan Harris.

The two teams were meeting exactly one week after Missouri won 64-39 at Georgia, holding the Bulldogs to their lowest point total at home since a 36-30 victory over Georgia Tech during the 1945-46 season.

Georgia nearly matched that output in the first half Wednesday while building a 34-32 lead. The Bulldogs shot just 35.7 percent in the first half but pulled ahead by getting to the bonus early.

“Playing this team a week ago and knowing we did not leave it all out there on the floor against them, I am firmly convinced they did tonight,” Crean said.

Missouri took the lead for good at 45-43 on a Kevin Puryear basket with 12:05 left. Neither team led by more than seven points until the final four minutes of the game.

While Georgia did a great job of drawing fouls, the Bulldogs failed to take full advantage. Georgia shot just 21 of 36 on free-throw attempts, including 9 of 18 in the second half.

“It spreads throughout a team,” Georgia forward Derek Ogbeide said. “Once two or three guys, a couple of guys miss, the next thing you know, it spreads, much like anything. Simply missing a shot from a few people a few times, that becomes contagious.”

Geist shot 9 of 15 overall and 10 of 13 from the foul line to lead Missouri. His previous career high was a 28-point performance against Green Bay on Dec. 9, 2017. Xavier Pinson added 15 points.

Ogbeide had 12 and Nicolas Claxton added 11 for Georgia. Claxton also had six blocks.

BIG PICTURE

Georgia: The Bulldogs have a long way to go as Crean attempts to rebuild the program. Before this year, Georgia hadn’t lost as many as 21 games in a season since a 3-21 finish in 1955-56.

Missouri: The Tigers won without getting much from Jeremiah Tilmon, their top post player. Tilmon scored four points and shot just 1 of 7 while playing 20 minutes and battling foul trouble. Tilmon has picked up at least four fouls in seven of his last eight games and has fouled out of three of them.

PICKETT’S RETURN

Missouri’s Javon Pickett returned to the starting lineup after back spasms caused him to miss a 73-68 loss to Mississippi on Saturday. He went scoreless in 22 minutes.

3-POINT WOES

Something about this matchup causes poor outside shooting.

Georgia was 4 of 19 and Missouri went 3 of 11 from 3-point range Wednesday. When these two teams met last week, the two teams shot a combined 0 for 22 from beyond the arc in the first half before Missouri ended up 6 of 21 and Georgia finished 3 of 20.

UP NEXT

Georgia will replace three departing senior starters in Claxton, Turtle Jackson and Ogbeide next season. The Bulldogs add incoming freshman Anthony Edwards, rated as the nation’s No. 2 overall prospect in his class according to composite rankings of recruiting sites compiled by 247Sports.

Missouri faces Auburn in a second-round game Thursday.

— Associated Press —

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Women’s Basketball senior guard Sophie Cunningham (Columbia, Mo.) is one of five finalists for the Cheryl Miller Small Forward of the Year Award, announced by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association on Wednesday. The annual award is in its second year and recognizes the top small forward in women’s NCAA Division I college basketball. It is the second straight year Cunningham has been named a finalist for the award.

The winner of the award will be determined by a combination of fan votes and input from the Basketball Hall of Fame’s selection committee. Fan voting will take place at hoophallawards.com between Friday, March 15 and Friday, March 29. The winner will be revealed during Final Four weekend in Tampa, Florida.

The watch list is the one of three that Cunningham’s name has appeared on, as she is a top-15 candidate for the Wooden Award and a top-41 athlete for the Wade Trophy.

The Tiger senior helped lead Mizzou to its first conference tournament semifinal appearance since 1994 at this week’s SEC Tournament. Mizzou recorded wins over Florida (March 7) and Kentucky (March 8) in Greenville, S.C. In Mizzou’s semifinal matchup with Mississippi State (March 9), Cunningham scored 33 points to become Mizzou’s all-time scoring leader, as her 2,157 points surpassed Joni Davis’ (1981-85) mark of 2,126 points.

Cunningham was recently named to her third straight All-SEC First Team by the league’s coaches, becoming the first player in program history to earn All-Conference First Team honors in three consecutive seasons. In addition, Cunningham was named to the All-SEC First Team by the Associated Press for the second straight season.

The SEC’s active career scoring leader, Cunningham is averaging 18.0 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game. Her 82 three-pointers rank fifth in Mizzou single season history, while her 594 points rank seventh.

Cunningham finished the regular season ranked fourth in the SEC in scoring (17.3 ppg), third in three-point percentage (40.7), third in three-pointers per game (2.3) and third in free throw percentage (81.8). In conference play, she led the SEC in three-point shooting (46.5 percent) and threes per game (2.9). Cunningham has reached 20 points in 15 games this season, including 10 times against SEC opponents, and 30 points three times. Mizzou is 13-2 when she scores 20+, and 2-1 when she reaches 30 points.

The Tiger senior is one of three Mizzou players to score 2,000 career points. Among program records, Cunningham ranks first in scoring (2,157 points), first in free throws made (526), second in three-pointers made (235), second in three-point percentage (40.7), third in free throw percentage (83.6), fourth in points per game (17.0) and fourth in assists (384).

— Mizzou Athletics —

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Two Mizzou Women’s Basketball signees received honors from the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association on Monday, as Aijha Blackwell and Hayley Frank both earned WBCA High School Coaches’ All-America honorable mention accolades.

Blackwell, who is finishing her senior year at Cardinal Ritter, is the No. 8-ranked prospect in the nation and No. 1 in the state of Missouri in espnW’s 2019 HoopGurlz Recruiting Rankings. She is a three-time Missouri Basketball Coaches Association Class 3 All-State selection (2016-18) and as a junior at Whitfield, averaged 24.2 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.0 steals per game.

Last summer, Blackwell won a gold medal in Mexico City at the 2018 FIBA Americas U18 Championship while playing for the USA U18 National Team. She averaged 9.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game over six games during USA’s championships run, including eight points, four rebounds and three steals in the gold medal game win over Canada.

Frank, from Strafford High School, is the No. 29-ranked prospect in the nation and No. 3 in Missouri in espnW’s 2019 HoopGurlz Recruiting Rankings. Frank closed her prep career by leading the Lady Indians to its fourth consecutive Class 3 state title win an incredible 115 consecutive wins. She reached the 3,000 point plateau in her final game, and ended with 3,004 points, 1,629 rebounds, 824 assists, 310 blocks and 296 steals. Her rebounds and 54.3 career three-point percentage are a Missouri state record, while her career assists total ranks fifth.

After another outstanding campaign in her senior season, Frank was named the 2018-19 Missouri Gatorade Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. Frank has also been named to the MBCA Class 3 All-State team for each of the last three seasons (2016-18), the MBCA Class 3 Player of the Year in 2016-17 and 2017-18 and the 2018 Missouri Wendy’s High School Heisman state winner.

— Mizzou Athletics —

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Mizzou Men’s Basketball will compete in the 2019 Hall of Fame Classic next season in Kansas City, Mo. In addition to Mizzou, the event features former Big 12 rival Oklahoma, Butler and Stanford. The two-day, four-team tournament will take place Nov. 25 and Nov. 26 at the Sprint Center. The National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) announced the field on Tuesday.

“We’re looking forward to playing in next season’s Hall of Fame Tournament against great competition,” Mizzou head coach Cuonzo Martin said. “It’s an exciting opportunity to showcase our program at a high-level event right in our backyard in Kansas City, and we’re ready for the challenge.”

The Hall of Fame Classic Powered by ShotTracker will be the culminating event of college basketball’s Hall of Fame Weekend, which also includes the 14th annual induction ceremony for the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. That event will take place on Sunday, Nov. 24 in Kansas City.

The semifinal rounds will be held on Monday, Nov. 25. The finals will take place the following day, Tuesday, Nov. 26, beginning with the consolation game, followed by the championship game. All four contests will be aired on an ESPN network.

Select tickets for the championship round games at Sprint Center will be available beginning Tuesday, March 12, through www.axs.com or www.halloffameweekend.com, and will remain on sale through the end of the college basketball season on April 9. Additional tickets will be available beginning on Saturday, September 7, at 10 a.m. CT via the same on-line ticket outlets, as well as charge by phone at 1-888-929-7849 and in person at the Box Office.

The complete bracket including matchups and television times for the 2019 Hall of Fame Classic Powered by ShotTracker, will be announced at a later date.

— Mizzou Athletics —

GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) — Mississippi State coach Vic Schaefer has reached this point before. He’d like a much different ending Sunday at the Southeastern Conference tournament championship.

Teaira McCowan had 27 points and 16 rebounds while teammate Anriel Howard had 19 points and 10 boards as the fifth-ranked Bulldogs pulled away from Missouri 71-56 on Saturday to advance to their fourth consecutive finals appearance. And Schaefer urged his team to take that last step to a title after losing the past three championship games to South Carolina.

“I’m tired of having confetti hit my backside as I walk to the locker room,” Schaefer said.

He told his players soon after the game. “It’s one more for the rest of your life,” he said. “What have you got?”

In McCowan and Howard, the Bulldogs (29-2) have one of the most potent combos in the SEC. The two have combined for 89 points and 45 rebounds in two tournament games. And the two are developing a stronger bond each time they hit the court, Schaefer said.

“They’re finally getting some chemistry between them,” he said. “Enjoying the success of each other.”

McCowan is the 6-foot-7 force underneath who won SEC player of the year this week. Howard is a grad transfer from Texas A&M who has worked to fit into a veteran team that had reached the Final Four each of the previous two seasons.

“To be able to be out there together every day (at practice), you’ll get chemistry eventually,” Howard said. “We’re showing we can be a pretty good duo.”

They were that against Missouri (23-10), the only SEC opponent to defeat them the past two regular seasons.

Mississippi State will face either No. 15 Texas A&M or 10th-seeded Arkansas for the SEC tournament title. Four-time defending SEC tournament champion South Carolina was beaten by Arkansas in Friday’s quarterfinals.

Sophie Cunningham scored a season-high 33 points for Missouri (23-10). She had five of the Tigers’ nine 3-pointers before fouling out.

The Tigers bettered Mississippi State down low in their last meeting, McCowan bothered by fouls. This time, McCowan and Howard were relentless in attacking the basket and Mississippi State doubled up Missouri in points in the paint, 48-24.

Tigers coach Robin Pingeton said her team tried to attack McCowan in a similar fashion without much success. “We had our hands full,” she said. “We just didn’t do a good job with that.”

When Missouri cut a 16-point lead down to 43-38 off Cunningham’s 11 straight points late in the third quarter, SEC player of the year McCowan powered an 11-3 surge with eight points.

As they did in their quarterfinal win over Tennessee, the Bulldogs started slowly and with Cunningham scoring seven points for the Tigers, found themselves down 14-11. But as in the 83-68 win over the Lady Vols, the Bulldogs got it rolling in the second quarter.

McCowan was front and center in the charge with four baskets, all from close in. Howard did her thing from the outside, too, with a 3-pointer and another jumper to put Mississippi State up by 13.

McCowan accomplished her 26th game this season with double figure points and rebounds with 12 points and 10 boards by halftime.

BIG PICTURE

Missouri: The Tigers, led by three-time all-SEC first team selection Cunningham, will be a difficult out wherever they’re sent when NCAA women’s tournament selections are announced March 18. Cunningham was her team’s lone double-digit scorer. Missouri will need more production from the others if it hopes to stick around in the postseason.

Mississippi State: The Bulldogs entered this week with a mission and have relentlessly moved forward toward their first-ever SEC tournament title. Howard, the Texas A&M grad transfer, has turned her game up another notch and seemed poised to take Mississippi State on a strong run through the NCAAs.

CUNNINGHAM LEGACY

Sophie Cunningham became her program’s all-time points leader in the semifinal loss. Cunningham has 2,157 points, surpassing Joni Davis’ mark of 2,126 set from 1981-85. Cunningham was pleased, but not ready to focus on the achievement. “I’m frustrated right now,” she said.

UP NEXT

Missouri will await a bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Mississippi State plays either No. 15 Texas A&M or Arkansas in the championship Sunday.

— Associated Press —

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Breein Tyree scored 21 points, Devontae Shuler knocked down clutch baskets late and Ole Miss defeated Missouri 73-68 on Saturday to snap its three-game losing streak.

Missouri had a shot to tie the game with fewer than 20 seconds left, but Rebels’ forward Bruce Stevens stuffed Jordan Geist’s layup attempt and guard Terence Davis knocked down a pair of free throws to secure an Ole Miss victory.

Mississippi trailed 34-26 at halftime but Tyree’s 3-pointer tied it at 46 with 12:20 remaining and another 3-pointer gave Ole Miss the lead, 60-59 with 5:03 to go. Later, it was sophomore guard Shuler who put the Rebels up two points with a fast-break layup with 1:28 remaining. He then knocked down a fadeaway jumper on Ole Miss’ next possession to extend the team’s lead to four with 52 seconds left.

In scraping by, Ole Miss (20-12, 10-8 Southeastern Conference) picked up a road win that was crucial in locking down an NCAA Tournament bid.

Missouri (14-16, 5-13) was looking to win its third straight game and move to .500. Freshman Xavier Pinson scored a career-high 20 points and his rookie counterpart Torrence Watson added 14.

BIG PICTURE

Ole Miss: The Rebels were safely in the NCAA Tournament for much of February, but a recent three-game losing streak started to move them closer to the bubble. Breaking that skid with a win against Missouri likely secured their tournament bid.

Missouri: The Tigers failed to reach .500 and couldn’t win on the team’s senior day, but its two leading scorers were freshmen. The future has looked bright for Missouri in its last couple of games.

UP NEXT

Ole Miss will play Thursday in the SEC Tournament. The Rebels tied Mississippi State as the sixth-place team in the conference standings.

Missouri will play Wednesday in the tournament as a 12 seed against Georgia.

— Associated Press —