The Missouri Men’s Basketball team hosted the No. 19 Vanderbilt Commodores on Wednesday night in a pivotal SEC conference showdown.
The Tigers came into the game looking to bounce back after a tough loss to Texas put their March Madness hopes further in jeopardy. The Commodores entered the game on a two game win streak, having won six of their last seven with the one blemish being a one-point loss to Oklahoma.
The Commodores started the season hot, winning their first 16 games before cooling off by way of a three-game losing streak, but they regained their footing in the following weeks. Vanderbilt was looking for their first ever win in Columbia, and the Tigers looked to extend their perfect 8-0 record against the Commodores at Mizzou Arena.
The Commodores started out hot, scoring five straight after winning the tipoff. They were aggressive out the gates, showing full-court pressure just one minute into the game. The hot start cooled down and both teams struggled to get shots to fall in the first six minutes of the game.
Eventually Jayden Stone caught fire, hitting 3 straight threes including an and-1 bucket from deep. It was the opposite story for Mark Mitchell, who failed to get a shot to fall until just under two minutes to go in the half. Despite the lack of production from their leading scorer, the Tigers had a 36-30 lead heading into the break led by efficient team shooting from beyond the arc.
Mizzou’s guard combo of T.O. Barrett and Stone led the way, each scoring 12 points in the first half. The Commodores, unusually, struggled to get shots from beyond the arc to fall in the first half, but nevertheless kept themselves in the game.
The Tigers opened the second half with their first double-digit lead of the game due to a run punctuated by a Trent Pierce three-pointer. Missouri held Vanderbilt scoreless for four minutes and got out to a 15 point lead with 15 minutes left in the game.
Anthony Robinson II took a shot from Vanderbilt’s Devin McGlockton while trying to get open on an inbound play. McGlockton was called for a flagrant foul upon review. Just two minutes later he picked up his second after elbowing Robinson II in the face while again fighting for positioning. Robinson hit two free throws to give the Tigers a 21 point lead.
When it seemed like Vanderbilt couldn’t possibly come back, they rattled off a 9-0 run in just 40 seconds. The Tigers did their best to weather the storm, but the Commodores’ full-court pressure opened up an 8-0 run, cutting the Tigers lead to just four. The game came down to the wire, as Tyler Nickel hit a three with less than two seconds on the clock. Mitchell looked to run out the clock by inbounding the ball well past halfcourt, but he miscalculated his distance. The pass was intercepted by Tyler Tanner, who heaved up a shot from mid court that just barely rattled out. The Tigers escaped with a 81-80 upset over Vanderbilt.
With just five games left in the regular season, this win could be crucial for the Tigers March Madness hopes as they go on the road next to face No. 20 Arkansas at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 21.