After watching their lead slip away with just over nine minutes to play, the Missouri Tigers outscored Tennessee 20-13 down the stretch to win their 18th game of the season, a 75-70 victory over the Volunteers at Mizzou Arena, Saturday afternoon. The win also improves the Tigers to .500 in SEC play at 6-6.
Jabari Brown led the Tigers with 24 points, but went a long stretch in this game where he was held scoreless. The Tigers led by as many at 13 in the first half, but watched Tennessee rally behind 31 points from their leading scorer Jordan McCrea. Their 6’6 senior was the only player to score a field goal over the final 11:17 of the game and he was held scoreless for the final 3:56 of the game as Mizzou’s defense put the clamps down late.
Free throw shooting kept the Vols in the game as they hit 22 of 29 attempts. Mizzou was 20 of 26 at the line and shot 57% for the game from the field. Much of that high percentage had to do with the inside game.
Mizzou got great inside presence with Jonathan Williams III, along with Torren Jones, Keanau Post and Tony Criswell coming off the bench to combine for 27 points and 14 rebounds. It was important the front line came up big on a day when Jordan Clarkson struggled. He finished with seven points on 3 of 11 shooting and went over 31 minutes of game time without a point scored.
