Missouri Tigers Marcus Denmon lays in the winning field goal in overtime against the Vanderbilt Commodores at the Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Missouri on December 8, 2010. Missouri won the game 85-82. UPI/Bill Greenblatt

Marcus Denmon scored 19 of his team high 21 points after theĀ half and keyed Missouri’s 85-82 win with a steal and finish of a three point play to lead the 11th ranked Tigers to an overtime win against Vanderbilt.

Denmon was playing with a heavy heart. A cousin was shot and killed in Kansas City the day before. Denmon was also the reigning Big 12 player of the week and finished his night 7 of 15 including 1 of 3 on three pointers and a team high three steals.

Vandy’s Brad Tinsley had a chance to win the game in regulation with the score tied 72-72, but missed a wide open three from the top of the key. It was Tinsley who had his pass stolen by Denmon late and who fouled Denmon. Tinsley then bricked a last second shot to try to tie the game.

Neither team lead by more than four into the first 27 minutes of the game. Vandy took a six point lead with 13:01 to play off a dunk to go up 54-48. They held the lead until Kim English’s three pointer put Mizzou back on top 62-60 with 7:34 to play.

From there it went back and forth. Mizzou was down 72-71 when Denmon missed a jumper, but Ricardo Ratliffe grabbed the offensive rebound and got fouled on the put back. Ratliffe made the second of two free throws to tie the game and force OT.

Ratliffe had 14 points and 9 rebounds. Michael Dixon scored 15 and English 12. Mizzou shot a season low 38% from the floor. Vandy has not allowed a team to shoot better than 50% all season.

The win for Missouri is their 51st straight against non-conference opponents at Mizzou Arena.