Preview: Oklahoma at Missouri

COLUMBIA, Mo. (Interstat) — Two Southeastern Conference teams looking to halt slides will meet Saturday when the Missouri Tigers host the Oklahoma Sooners at Mizzou Arena.

Oklahoma (11-7, 1-4 SEC) arrives having lost four consecutive conference games. The Sooners fell 85-76 at South Carolina on Tuesday despite 22 points from guard Xzayvier Brown. Missouri (13-6, 3-3) has dropped two straight, including a narrow 74-72 home loss to Georgia on Tuesday.

The matchup features two of the league’s top individual performers in recent weeks. Oklahoma’s Brown has been a bright spot during the skid, averaging 19.8 points over his last five games. He scored 24 in a loss to Florida and 23 in a win over Mississippi earlier this month.

Missouri will counter with forward Mark Mitchell, who is averaging 17.7 points over his last six contests. Mitchell posted 20 points and five assists in a win over Auburn and 21 points in a key road victory at Kentucky.

Both teams have struggled defensively in losses. Oklahoma has allowed an average of 86.3 points in its four SEC defeats. Missouri, after a strong 3-0 start in league play, has conceded 78 points per game in its three consecutive conference losses.

The Tigers will aim to protect their home court, where they are 10-2 this season. The Sooners are 1-3 in true road games.

This game begins a pivotal stretch for both squads. Missouri visits Alabama next Tuesday, while Oklahoma hosts Arkansas.

Tip-off is scheduled for Saturday afternoon. The teams will meet again in the regular-season finale on March 3 in Norman, Oklahoma.