COLUMBIA, Mo. _ Off the efforts of Xavier Pinson and Dru Smith, the Missouri Tigers blew out No. 11 Auburn, 85-73, on Saturday.
Mizzou (12-13, 4-8 SEC) upset Auburn (22-3, 9-3) with a dominant effort. The duo of Pinson and Smith combined for 56 points at Mizzou Arena.
Pinson and Smith were getting it done everywhere, whether it was on 3-pointers or tricky shots near the basket. Auburn had few answers for the two starting guards for Missouri. The duo also had 33 points in the first half, single-handedly outscoring Auburn 33-32.
A week after scoring a then career-high 24 points in defeating Arkansas, Pinson outdid himself with a new career-high 28 points against Auburn. Dru Smith also had a career-high 28 points. Kobe Brown impressed, finishing with 10 points and nine rebounds.
Mizzou had one of its best offensive performance of the season. MU coach Cuonzo Martin's Tigers shot 54.9% from the field. The 3-pointers (7 for 13) fell while Mizzou attacked the basket often.
The fouls were plentiful for Mizzou and Auburn, the two teams combining for 56 fouls, including three of the technical variety.
Auburn finished 30 for 46 from the free-throw line, which kept Auburn in the game. But shots didn't fall for coach Bruce Pearl's Tigers. They finished 1 for 17 on 3-pointers. They went long stretches without field goals, but relied on free throws. That wasn't enough in Auburn's third loss of the season.
Mizzou was again without Jeremiah Tilmon (stress fracture) and Mark Smith (lower back) as they deal with their injuries. Mark Smith has missed the past five games. Tilmon has had a setback on his foot, sitting the past three games.
Auburn forward Austin Wiley scored 22 points, and J'Von McCormick had 21 points.
Mizzou next hosts Mississippi at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Mizzou Arena.
