The University of Missouri started Saturday’s game already trailing the Georgia Bulldogs, but the 21st-ranked Tigers put on a strong second half to tame their hosts 87-74 in Athens.

Mizzou was assessed a dead ball technical before the opening tip when they failed to list Mark Mitchell in the starting lineup. Silas Demary Jr made the lone free throw attempt to give Georgia the unusual 1-0 lead. The Bulldogs and Tigers exchanged the lead over a dozen times during the game, with Georgia wiping out a six-point Mizzou lead late in the first half to take a 41-38 lead into the locker room. Georgia posted 61-percent shooting accuracy during the opening half with 22 points in the paint. The Tigers would strike first in the second half with a three from Trent Pierce. Mizzou then went on a ten-point run to stake an eight-point lead after the first media timeout, then rattled off 15 straight points to put the game out of reach.

Anthony Robinson II scored 13 of his team-leading 15 points after halftime. Caleb Grill came off the bench to also score 15 points, while Mark Mitchell added 14 points and Tamar Bates claimed 13. Asa Newell led the Bulldogs with 23 points and 10 rebounds, while Demary played all 40 minutes for Georgia to score 16 points and four assists.

Mizzou advance to 19-6 on the year including an 8-4 mark in the Southeastern Conference. The Tigers return home Wednesday night for a critical tilt against second-ranked Alabama. Tipoff is at 8 p.m., with pregame at 7:30 p.m. on KMMO.