COLUMBIA, Mo. — This Braggin’ Rights Game looked different than all the rest but ended with a familiar result for Cuonzo Martin’s Missouri Tigers.
Hosting the annual rivalry game against No. 6 Illinois in front of only a smattering of supporters from both programs, the Tigers showed off their depth and balance Saturday night and overcame an off night from two of their most important players in an 81-78 victory, their third straight in the series.
Come Monday, Martin’s Tigers (5-0) should find themselves nationally ranked for the first time since January 2014 after knocking off the Illini (4-2) despite leading scorer Mark Smith and starting center Jeremiah Tilmon barely factoring into the box score. Foul trouble dogged Tilmon, while Smith struggled to find his jumper against his former team.
