MBB Live Thread: Mizzou looks for home upset of top-20 Vanderbilt

Final: Mizzou 81 – Vanderbilt 80

First Half

• It didn’t take Vanderbilt long to find its rhythm on offense after the tip, and the Commodores hold a 9-4 lead at the U16 timeout. Something of note in the first few minutes: Anthony Robinson II entered the game for T.O. Barrett at the 17:09 mark, which could foreshadow a greater role for him tonight.

• Now it’s Mizzou’s turn for its offense to come alive. The Tigers hold a 14-13 lead entering the U12 timeout after going on an 8-0 run that featured a three-point play by Barrett shortly after he reentered the game and a triple from Jayden Stone. Barrett came back in after Robinson picked up his second foul; we’ll see how that affects the team’s rotations over the rest of this half.

• MU’s defense has gotten stingy over these past few minutes, and the Tigers are up 21-15 at the U8 timeout. T.O. Barrett and Jayden Stone have both scored a quick seven points, which included a four-point play for Stone on a foul by Vanderbilt’s Chandler Bing.

• Here’s a stat I don’t think many expected to see entering this game: Mizzou is off to a 5-of-9 start from beyond the arc, while the Commodores are just 3-of-10 so far from deep. The Tigers’ five makes include two from Barrett, who has 10 points alongside two rebounds and two steals at the U4 timeout as MU leads 29-25.

• Trent Pierce hits a three to put Mizzou ahead 36-28, and Vanderbilt calls timeout with 47.4 seconds remaining in the first half. The Tigers are now 6-of-12 from beyond the arc, plus 10-of-13 from the free throw line.

• MU takes a 36-30 lead into halftime after a made Tyler Tanner jumper. Barrett and Stone continue to lead the way for the Tigers; both players have 12 points heading into the break. That first half went about as well as possible for Mizzou — we’ll see if the team can keep the clamps on Vanderbilt’s offense in the second half.

Second Half

• The Tigers are on a 10-0 run and have built up their largest lead of the game following back-to-back triples from Pierce and Stone. Vanderbilt calls timeout trailing 47-33 with 15:21 to go, and they’re playing Mr. Brightside here in Columbia.

• Trent Burns is getting some extended run time tonight, and the student section has absolutely loved it. Burns’ playing time has partially been because he’s giving MU some quality minutes, and partially due to foul trouble for Shawn Phillips Jr., who came in for only seven seconds before picking up his fourth foul after a lengthy stint on the bench. The Tigers lead by 16 at the U12 timeout, 54-38.

• Devin McGlockton has been called for a flagrant one foul after making some heavy contact with Anthony Robinson II while Mizzou was trying to inbound the ball. Robinson hit both shots to put the Tigers up 59-41 with 10:39 left, and MU gets the ball.

• Just a few minutes later, McGlockton has picked up a second flagrant foul — also for contact with Robinson. The call followed a challenge by Gates (asking them to review for the flagrant) that led to a lengthy review. One more and McGlockton would get ejected. Mizzou leads 65-44 after hitting three of four free throws (two for a shooting foul before the review) with 8:41 remaining.

• Vanderbilt is fighting its way back into this one with a rapid 9-0 run over the last 40 seconds, and Mizzou calls timeout. The Tigers need to find a way to get past the Commodores’ press. MU still leads by 10 with 6:43 to go, 67-57.

• The Tigers have stabilized their lead slightly with buckets by Pierce and Stone. It’s 74-64 in favor of Mizzou with 3:17 to go, and Vanderbilt just called its final timeout. Something to watch down the stretch: the Commodores have nine team fouls, so MU will reach the double bonus immediately if Vandy resorts to fouling to try and come back.

• Vanderbilt has cut Mizzou’s lead all the way down to 78-75 after Tyler Tanner converted a three-point play with 1:07 left. The Tigers just called their second-to-last timeout after Barrett got into some trouble trying to break the press and will have the ball coming out of the break.

• Mizzou calls its final timeout after Chandler Bing hits a shot to cut the Tigers’ lead to two points with six seconds remaining. Looks like this one might come down to free throws.

• What an unbelievable finish. Mizzou holds on to win by the slimmest of margins, 81-80. The Commodores had a chance to win it after stealing the ball at halfcourt off the inbounds pass with one second remaining, but Tyler Tanner’s shot rimmed out. That’s a huge Quad 1 win for the Tigers, who are now 18-8 on the season and 8-5 in the SEC.

Pregame Updates

• Mizzou sticks with its starting five of T.O. Barrett, Jayden Stone, Trent Pierce, Mark Mitchell and Shawn Phillips Jr.

• Vanderbilt also goes with its usual lineup of Tyler Tanner, Tyler Nickel, AK Okereke, Devin McGlockton and Jalen Washington.

Game Info

When | 8 p.m. CT

Where | Mizzou Arena; Columbia, Mo.

TV | SEC Network

Radio | Tiger Radio Network

Twitter | @MizzouHoops

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KenPom prediction | Vanderbilt -6

ESPN win probability | 35.0% chance