Tamar Bates scored 25 points to lead seventh-seeded Missouri to an 85-73 win over 10th-seed Mississippi State in the second round of the SEC tournament Thursday in Nashville.Tony Perkins added 20 points for the Tigers (22-10), who beat the Bulldogs for the second time this season.But while the Tigers won that game handily, by 27 points Feb. 1 on the road, this one was much tighter.The Bulldogs (21-12) took a lead on Josh Hubbard’s four-point play with just less than five minutes remaining.But Mississippi State wouldn’t hit another field goal until less than 30 seconds remained.The game was tied with just over four minutes remaining before Caleb Grill took a feed from Anthony Robinson II and dunked it home; Aidan Shaw blocked Hubbard’s shot on the other end moments later.Grill’s dunk ignited a 12-2 run that ultimately put the game out of reach, the last six points of which were scored by Bates.The Bulldogs missed seven consecutive shots during the stretch.After turning the ball over nine times before halftime, the Tigers had just five turnovers in the second half.Missouri advances to take on second-seed Florida in Friday’s quarterfinals.The Tigers beat the Gators 83-82 on the road Jan. 14.
