Missouri Triumphs Over Vanderbilt in Thrilling Finish
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — In a nail-biting finish, Missouri narrowly defeated No. 19 Vanderbilt with an 81-80 score on Wednesday evening, despite nearly letting a significant advantage slip away.
Key Performers
Key contributions for Missouri included Jayden Stone with 19 points, while Trent Pierce and T.O. Barrett each added 16 points. Additionally, Anthony Robinson II scored 13 points, and Mark Mitchell not only tallied 11 points but also set a personal record with nine assists.
This victory marked Missouri’s fourth win out of their last five games, enhancing their campaign to 9-0 against Vanderbilt when playing at home, pushing their record to 18-8 overall and 8-5 within the Southeastern Conference.
Vanderbilt’s Challenge
For Vanderbilt, Tyler Tanner was the standout performer, scoring 27 points, while Devin McGlockton contributed 13 points. The Commodores, who had recently been on a roll winning five out of six games, faced a daunting challenge after finding themselves down 66-45 with just over eight minutes left in the game.
Tensions escalated after McGlockton received a second flagrant foul following a controversial call against him. Missouri’s coach Dennis Gates opted to challenge a foul call concerning a rebound involving Mitchell, but Vanderbilt’s coach Mark Byington lost a challenge aimed at Anthony Robinson II, who was implicated in a similar foul play.
Dramatic Conclusion
The dramatic conclusion saw Barrett extend Missouri’s lead with two clutch free throws, only for Tanner to drain a three-pointer with just two seconds remaining. However, following a critical interception of Mitchell’s inbound pass, Tanner’s half-court shot echoed off the rim but ultimately did not fall, sealing the Tigers’ victory.
Looking Ahead
Both teams now look ahead, with Vanderbilt preparing to host Tennessee this Saturday, while Missouri will travel to face Arkansas on the same day.
