Moody scores 23 points in Mississippi's 67-47 win

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Stefan Moody scored 23 points and Martavious Newby grabbed nine rebounds to lead Mississippi past Missouri 67-47 on Saturday.

Ole Miss (14-7, 5-3 SEC) used runs of 8-0 and 7-0 in the opening 20 minutes to build a 37-25 lead at the break, and led by at least nine points throughout the closing half.

Johnathan Williams III scored 14 points for Missouri (7-14, 1-7), which lost its seventh consecutive game for the first time since 1993. The Tigers, who lost 69-53 to No. 1 Kentucky about 40 hours before Saturday's tipoff, shot just 19 of 61 (31.1 percent) from the field.

Mississippi made 13 of 15 free throws, including a 10-for-10 performance from Moody, who leads the SEC with a 90.7 percent rate from the line. The junior also provided the highlight of the game with a one-handed put-back dunk off a missed 3-pointer by Anthony Perez with 9:37 remaining in the first half.

Perez and M.J. Rhett each added eight points for Ole Miss.

Missouri trailed by at least 10 points for all but 73 seconds in the final 25:50 after coach Kim Anderson said Thursday that his team has been playing better despite its record. There were few bright spots Saturday, though.

Wes Clark scored eight points after netting a career-high 19 against the Wildcats while Williams III grabbed seven rebounds. Tramaine Isabell missed the game because of a "coach's decision," according to a team spokesman.

The game seemed to be a sideshow at times for Missouri, which recognized football coach Gary Pinkel and his team for its Citrus Bowl win against Minnesota on New Year's Day. Clapping and snapping pictures in the audience was heralded recruit Terry Beckner Jr., who was on an official visit to the school.

The defensive tackle from East St. Louis, Illinois, toured Ohio State last weekend and Auburn the week before, along with Florida State in November. Students showered him with praise as he walked to his seat pregame, holding up signs and T-shirts with Beckner Jr.'s name on them.

Beckner Jr. is expected to announce what school he will attend on National Signing Day on Wednesday.

Tip-ins

Mississippi: The Rebels shot 24 of 55 (43.6 percent) from the field.

Missouri: A layup by Williams narrowed the Tigers' deficit to 48-39 with 9:39 remaining, but the Tigers watched Ole Miss gradually extend its lead to as many as 24 the rest of the way.

Up next

Mississippi returns home to face Texas A&M on Wednesday.

Missouri plays at Alabama on Wednesday.