Tennessee's Winning Streak Snapped by Mizzou's Grit
The Tennessee Volunteers hit a roadblock in Columbia, falling 73-69 to a Mizzou team fighting tooth and nail for a tournament spot. Riding a four-game winning streak, the Vols seemed poised for another victory, but Mizzou had other plans.
The game started strong for Tennessee, jumping to a 12-2 lead and controlling the early tempo. Their defense was solid, especially on the boards and around the rim.
However, offensive hiccups, including eight first-half turnovers, allowed Mizzou to claw back. A clutch elbow jumper from Ja'Kobi Gillespie at the buzzer gave Tennessee a slim 29-26 lead at halftime.
As the clock ticked down to 9:30 in the second half, Bishop Bowell's three-pointer cut Mizzou's lead to two. But Mizzou responded immediately with a three that seemed to hang on the rim forever before dropping.
The game was a back-and-forth battle. Nate Ament's missed free throws and a shot clock violation were costly for Tennessee, as Mizzou capitalized with a quick three to stretch their lead to eight.
In the final minute, with Tennessee trailing 67-65, they struggled to find a quality shot. Gillespie's deep three missed, and T.O.
Barret's layup pushed Mizzou's lead back to four. Another long-range attempt from Gillespie fell short, but Ament's rebound cut the deficit to two with just 25.4 seconds left.
Mizzou's free throws and a crucial Tennessee turnover sealed the Vols' fate.
Turnovers: Tennessee's Achilles' Heel
Turnovers were the thorn in Tennessee's side, with 15 giveaways leading to 23 points for Mizzou. In contrast, Mizzou's eight turnovers resulted in just seven points for Tennessee.
The backcourt, despite some key shots from Gillespie and Bowell, struggled to find rhythm and efficiency. Off the bench, Ethan Burg added to the turnover woes with two of his own.
Looking ahead, Tennessee must regroup quickly as they face a strong Alabama squad on Saturday, eager to avenge an earlier defeat. The Vols will need to tighten up their game to bounce back and keep their season on track.