Strong defense leads Missouri past Mississippi

Kobe Brown of Missouri tries to drive against the defense of Mississippi’s Jaemyn Brakefield during Tuesday night’s game in Oxford, Miss. (Photo by Joshua McCoy/Ole Miss Athletics)
Kobe Brown of Missouri tries to drive against the defense of Mississippi’s Jaemyn Brakefield during Tuesday night’s game in Oxford, Miss. (Photo by Joshua McCoy/Ole Miss Athletics)

OXFORD, Miss. -- Amari Davis scored 23 points and Kobe Brown added 15 as Missouri beat Mississippi 78-53 on Tuesday night.

Missouri won just its fourth game in 19 meetings with Mississippi since the Tigers joined the Southeastern Conference in the 2012-13 season.

Missouri led by double figures the entire second half. Mississippi pulled within 57-47 after a 9-0 run, but the Tigers answered by scoring the next 15 points -- with six points from Brown -- for a 25-point lead with three minutes left.

Javon Pickett and Ronnie DeGray III each had 11 points for Missouri (8-9, 2-3). Point guard Jarron Coleman grabbed a career-high 13 rebounds, to go with eight points and seven assists, to help the Tigers hold a 40-26 edge on the glass.

Davis scored 13 points in the first half and Missouri lead 38-23 after shooting 55.6 percent from the field. Mississippi was just 8 for 31 (25.8 percent) in the opening 20 minutes and finished at 34.4 percent.

Daeshun Ruffin scored 12 points for Mississippi (9-8, 1-4), which has lost five of its last six games. Nysier Brooks had eight points and 10 rebounds.

Both teams play familiar foes Saturday. Missouri looks for its second victory against Alabama this season, while Mississippi tries for the same against rival Mississippi State.