COLUMBIA, MO. — In a rematch of a Dec. 30 clash, No. 19 Mizzou Men’s Basketball downed No. 6 Tennessee on the road Saturday night, 73-64. It marked the third ranked win of the season for Mizzou and gives the Tigers a pair of wins over Top-6 teams for the first time since the 2011-12 team.
The win marked Mizzou’s first in Knoxville since 1972 and the Tigers’ first victory over Tennessee since 2018. Mizzou forced 18 Volunteer turnovers and outscored Tennessee 28-20 in the paint. The Tigers hit eight 3-pointers, their most in SEC play thus far.
Junior guard Xavier Pinson dominated with a season-high 27 points, the most by a Tiger this season and the most Tennessee has allowed to an individual player this season. Pinson drained three 3-pointers and finished 10-of-14 from the floor. He and fellow guard Dru Smith combined for 45 of Mizzou’s 73 points. Smith hit a season-best three 3-pointers en route to 18 points.
Turning Point
Mizzou led wire-to-wire.
Top Tigers
- Xavier Pinson scored a season-high 27 points. He was a perfect 3-of-3 from beyond the arc and a perfect 4-of-4 from the foul line.
- Dru Smith hit three 3-pointers and scored 18 points, his most since Dec. 6 at Wichita State. He tacked on four boards, two dimes and a steal.
- Kobe Brown was a menace on the glass, tallying a team-high seven boards and adding eight points in 20 minutes.
Game Notes
- Saturday’s win gave Mizzou its first win in Knoxville since 12/16/1972, and its third all-time victory on Rocky Top.
- With the win, Mizzou advanced to 10-2, the best 12 game start to a season since the 2013-14 season, in which the squad started 11-1.
- This was the Tigers’ first true road win against a Top-6 team since 1/21/2012 against third ranked Baylor (89-88).
- In addition to the win against Illinois, this is the first season since 2011-12 in which Mizzou has beaten two AP Top 6 teams in the same season (Baylor twice).
- With Jeremiah Tilmon’s two swats on the night, he tied Chris Heller for ninth on Mizzou’s all-time career blocks list with 89.
- Mark Smith tied his career high of three steals.
- Mizzou forced a season-high 18 Tennessee turnovers.
- Before Cuonzo Martin‘s arrival, Mizzou hadn’t won a true road game since 2014. Mizzou has won 13 such games during his tenure, including four this season already before February.
- Tennessee is the 19th straight Mizzou opponent to score 79 or fewer points. Mizzou is 5-0 this season when holding opponents to 69 or fewer points.
Up Next
Mizzou continues a two-game road swing with a trip to Auburn on Tuesday night. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. CT on ESPN2.
