Mizzou falls to No. 15-seed Princeton at the doorstep of the Sweet Sixteen

Missouri guard DeAndre Gholston fights for a rebound between two Princeton defenders during the Scound Round of the NCAA Tournament on March 18, 2023, in Sacramento, Calif.

Missouri’s dream season has ended at the hands of a bigger dream.

In Dennis Gates’ first season, the Missouri men’s basketball team couldn’t overcome the madness that March brought. MU fell to Princeton in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament 78-63.

The Tigers’ season — as chaotic, improbable and everlasting as it will remain in the MU record books — finishes with a 25-10 record and at the doorstep of the Sweet Sixteen.

With under six minutes to go, No. 15-seeded Princeton took a 19-point lead on Missouri. Princeton blitzed Missouri with 3-point shots and efficient defense. Missouri had no answers. It was a reversal of what MU had done to so many teams.

Princeton was just the better team in every facet. The Cinderella magic Princeton cultivated against Arizona continued two days later. Who knows how long that magic will carry Princeton, but Princeton found that magic early against Missouri.

Princeton rolls early on

On Friday, Carter mentioned that Princeton outworked Arizona. Princeton beat the Wildcats with hustle, defense and rebounding, all aspects MU could either surpass or match Princeton.

Whatever Princeton did, however, Missouri did not match early. That led to Princeton’s 33-26 lead at the end of the first half.

Missouri closed the half with a 7-0 run. That slimmed the Princeton lead from 14 to seven. It was a short burst, but one Missouri needed. It gave MU a little rhythm that it had missed the entire first half.

MU was never in control in the half until the final minute when it got stops and did what it needed to do in order to get within striking distance to start the second half.

This was still unfamiliar ground for Missouri. The Tigers have never played with stakes this high. They needed to find a way to face the moment. Missouri couldn’t match the moment as Princeton did.

Diarra’s time to shine

Mohammed Diarra was an oft-used reserve. He was put into the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament and emerged as a key defensive player when Missouri needed it.

Story continues

In the second half, when Missouri went to a zone look, Diarra protected the rim and did it at a high level. He didn’t allow Princeton to get easy looks.

He had two quick blocks and had four rebounds at the Under-12 timeout.

Diarra, with Hodge and Brown on the bench, was a spark for Missouri. MU needed to respond with some sort of offense. Gholston and East gave Missouri some points but the team needed more and in bunches.

Those bunches, which we saw come time and time again this season, did not come/

Tigers could not match March Madness

In games against Georgia, LSU and Tennessee, Missouri trailed at halftime. MU won those games.

Against Princeton, the Tigers erupted for double-digit 3-point shots and capitalized on turnovers. Those Tigers just happened to be the Princeton Tigers.

Princeton could not be stopped. Its magic continued as it out-scored, hustled and worked Missouri. Princeton hit 12 3-pointers, eight of which were in the second half. Princeton outrebounded Missouri 44-30.

MU also didn’t get its usual magic. D’Moi Hodge finished with two points and didn’t make a 3-pointer all game. Brown scored just 10 points.

Princeton guard Blake Peters, who is the grandson of two Missouri alums, scored 15. The storyline was there. Ryan Langborg scored 22. The fairytale continues for Princeton.

The magic of MU’s first season ends in Sacramento. There’s no denying how magical it was, though.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Mizzou falls to No. 15-seed Princeton, just short of the Sweet Sixteen