In a thrilling showdown at Mizzou Arena, the Missouri Tigers clinched a significant victory over No. 22 Tennessee, edging them out 73-69.
This win marks Mizzou's third triumph over a ranked opponent this season, pushing their record to 19-9 overall and 9-6 in the SEC. Tennessee, now at 20-8, holds a 10-5 conference record.
Impressively, this is Mizzou's second ranked win in just seven days.
Mizzou Standouts
Sophomore T.O. Barrett was the star of the night, delivering a career-high 28 points, with 16 coming in the pivotal second half. Barrett's performance was rounded out with five rebounds and two assists, setting the pace for the Tigers.
Senior Mark Mitchell also shone brightly, contributing 23 points and three rebounds. Together, Barrett and Mitchell combined for the highest scoring output by a Mizzou duo this season.
Redshirt freshman Trent Burns continued his impressive form, matching his career high with seven rebounds and adding a personal-best four steals to his stat line.
Game Recap
The game began with Tennessee taking control early, jumping to a 12-2 lead thanks to six offensive rebounds. The Volunteers maintained a lead of six or more for a significant stretch, extending it to 21-12 before Mizzou ramped up their defensive efforts.
The Tigers then held Tennessee scoreless for over five minutes, going on an 8-0 run, largely fueled by Barrett's six points, narrowing the gap to 21-20. A 3-pointer from Ja'Kobi Gillespie halted Mizzou's momentum temporarily.
Mizzou responded with a quick 6-0 burst, highlighted by a putback dunk from Burns and a steal-and-score by Barrett, giving them their first lead at 26-24. Tennessee closed the half strong, however, reclaiming a 29-26 advantage at the break.
The Tigers roared back after halftime, regaining the lead at 36-34 with a 6-0 run, including a Trent Pierce 3-pointer and a Mitchell and-one following a turnover. The teams exchanged leads and tied four times over the next few minutes, locked at 45 with 11 minutes remaining. This set the stage for a decisive 13-3 Missouri run.
Pierce and Anthony Robinson II each nailed a 3-pointer, propelling Mizzou to a 56-48 lead, their largest of the night. The Tigers maintained their edge, with the lead fluctuating between three and six points. Mitchell's three-point play extended the lead to 67-60 with just over three minutes left.
Tennessee fought back, with Gillespie scoring five straight points to cut the deficit to 67-65. But Barrett's timely layup and Nate Ament's second-chance bucket for Tennessee kept it close. Ultimately, Jacob Crews sealed the deal for Mizzou, sinking four clutch free throws in the final seconds to secure the 73-69 victory.
Team Stats
Mizzou finished strong, shooting 47.3 percent from the field, including a scorching 66.7 percent in their final 24 attempts. They dominated the paint with a 40-32 advantage and capitalized on 15 Tennessee turnovers, converting them into 23 points. Meanwhile, Tennessee shot 42.9 percent from the field and struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 7-of-24 attempts.
This win not only adds to Mizzou's impressive resume but also sets the stage for an exciting finish to their season.