No. 17 Tennessee Defeats Mizzou

COLUMBIA, Mo. —  Despite a strong start early, the University of Missouri men’s basketball team couldn’t hold off No. 17 Tennessee’s defensive pressure as the Volunteers won, 80-61, Tuesday night inside Mizzou Arena. The game capped off a stretch of four games in seven days for the Tigers.

Javon Pickett led Mizzou in scoring for the 12^th time in his career, recording his 40^th career game in double-digits. The senior picked up 11 of his 16 points in the second half, and went a perfect 6-of-6 at the free throw line. Joining Pickett in double-digits was juniors DaJuan Gordon and Kobe Brown who each had 12. Brown was just shy of his sixth double-double on the season with a game-best nine rebounds.

TURNING POINT

Midway through the first half, with the score even at 17, Tennessee’s guard Kennedy Chandley floated in a layup that started a 13-0 run for Tennessee. Mizzou fought back in the second half with an 8-0 run itself but could move the momentum away from the Volunteers.

GAME NOTES

• Tuesday was Pickett’s 12^th-straight SEC game in double-figures, and his second-highest scoring effort in conference action.
• Pickett’s six free throws were a career-high.
• Trevon Brazile recorded a pair of blocks in the game, totaling 38 rejections on the season. He still ranks fourth all-time on Mizzou’s freshman single-season block list and is poised to be top-10 all-time in single-season blocks per game.
• The game featured a total of five lead changes and four ties.
• All eight available players for Mizzou saw action, with seven of them scoring five points or more.
• Gordon’s efforts were the 10^th time this season he has had 10 or more points and the ninth time he’s shot at a 50 percent or higher clip.

UP NEXT
Missouri heads out on the road for its final two away games of the season, beginning with a matchup at LSU on Saturday, Feb. 26. The game is slated for a 7:30 p.m. tip on SEC Network.

FOLLOW THE TIGERS

For all the latest information on Mizzou Men’s Basketball, please visit MUTigers.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Tigers on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @MizzouHoops. Fans should call 1-800-CAT-PAWS for tickets or buy online today!

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