The game against Oral Roberts was a rollercoaster ride for the Tigers. The visitors scored efficiently early on, taking a 13-point lead with a minute left in the first frame. Facing the deficit, the Tigers showed great resilience and scored the final two buckets in the first quarter, sparking a 10-0 run. Laniah Randle was particularly dominant during this stretch, putting up 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting and adding four rebounds and two steals. However, Oral Robert's advantage was still significant at halftime, with a 36-31 lead.
In the second half, the Golden Eagles fought to stretch their lead to a dozen midway through the third quarter. But the Tigers didn't give up. They turned defense into offense, forcing three turnovers and getting a fast-break layup from Randle to knot the game at 52 apiece. Oral Roberts then converted a four-point play to end the third quarter and maintained their lead for the rest of the game. The final frame was a tightly contested affair, with Oral Roberts pulling away late for the victory.
Missouri shot 27-of-63 (42.9 percent) from the floor, including 6-of-8 from the charity stripe. Oral Roberts shot 31-of-56 (55.4 percent) on the evening, converting 10 3-pointers. The Tigers forced a season-high 16 steals, converting 20 Golden Eagles turnovers into 17 points. These statistics show the intensity and competitiveness of the game.
Looking ahead, Missouri enters the holiday break before returning to action at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 29 against Jackson State at Mizzou Arena. The contest will stream live on SECN+. This upcoming game will be an opportunity for the Tigers to bounce back and continue their season.