No. 14 Mizzou (21-8, 10-6 SEC) fell short in an overtime thriller against Vanderbilt (20-9, 8-8 SEC) on Saturday night, marking their second loss in the last three games.
Game Summary:
The Tigers came out firing, building a 16-7 lead fueled by Caleb Grill’s electric 11-1 solo run, which featured three 3-pointers and a layup. Despite Vanderbilt closing the gap, Mizzou ended the first half on a 14-4 run, heading into the locker room up 38-29.
In a game defined by momentum swings, Mizzou struggled once again with turnovers (13 total) and couldn’t fully shake off the Commodores. The Tigers held a 77-71 advantage late after an 8-0 run, highlighted by a Jacob Crews step-back three and contributions from Mark Mitchell and Tamar Bates. However, Vanderbilt stormed back with Tyler Nickel hitting a clutch three-pointer with 2.3 seconds left to force overtime.
In the extra frame, the Commodores took over, shooting 80% from the field and hitting 7-of-9 free throws. Mizzou’s defense couldn’t contain Vanderbilt, who finished the game shooting 50% overall. The Tigers shot 49% from the field and 9-of-22 from beyond the arc but couldn’t match Vanderbilt's efficiency when it mattered most. The Commodores had four players score double digits with Chris Manon leading the way with 23 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.
Key Performers:
Mizzou:
Caleb Grill: 28 points, including three first-half 3-pointers
Mark Mitchell: 20 points, 7 rebounds
Anthony Robinson II: 16 points, 5 assists, 3 steals
Vanderbilt:
Chris Manon: 23 points, 11 rebounds
AJ Hoggard: 21 points
Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
Mar 1, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Missouri Tigers guard Caleb Grill (31) lays the ball in against the Vanderbilt Commodores during the second half at Memorial Gymnasium.
Key Takeaways:
Mizzou has now lost two of its last three games, with the previous defeat coming against Arkansas at Bud Walton Arena in almost similar fashion.
The Tigers remain in the top half of the SEC standings but missed an opportunity to improve their tournament resume and secure a double bye in the upcoming SEC tournament with a road win. They will now need results from other teams to have a chance at a top four spot in the conference.
The Tigers failed to cover the -2.5 spread and the total went OVER 157.5
What’s Next:
Mizzou continues its road trip, facing Oklahoma on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. CST, with coverage on SECN+. The Tigers will look to regain momentum as the regular season winds down and the NCAA tournament approaches.