Vanderbilt threatened Missouri much of the second half, but Jordan Geist & Co. kept coming up with answers as the Tigers snapped their three-game losing streak with a 77-67 win over the Commodores on Saturday at Columbia, Mo.
Jeremiah Tilmon had 19 points to lead Missouri (11-9, 2-6 Southeastern Conference) in scoring. Geist scored 15, and Javon Pickett (12) and Torrence Watson (12) also reached double figures.
Vanderbilt (9-12, 0-8) has lost nine in a row. Aaron Nesmith led the Commodores with 19 points, and Saben Lee added 15.
Missouri nearly let a 15-point lead slip away. After Nesmith converted three free throws with 4:01 left, the Commodores got within 62-57.
But Watson hit a three just before the shot clock horn sounded with 3:30 left on Missouri's next offensive trip. Geist then drained a three from almost the same spot with 2:36 left, putting Missouri up by nine.
Vanderbilt's Matt Ryan answered with a three, but after the Tigers nearly lost the ball twice on their ensuing possession, Geist hit a floater in the lane with 1:35 left.
Missouri took its biggest lead when Geist sprinted down the floor and threw in a layup just after catching a long pass from Mitchell Smith. He drew a foul and converted the three-point play for a 46-31 margin.
Vanderbilt, meanwhile, was getting nothing done offensively. The Commodores answered with a three from Ryan with 12:45 left, just their second field goal of the half.
That was the start of a quick 11-0 Vanderbilt run, which Smith answered with a contested three from straightaway with 10:07 left.
Missouri led 37-28 at half, holding the Commodores to 0-of-10 shooting on 3-pointers. Lee (12) led all scorers at the break.
It took 22:23 before the Commodores hit their first three of the night, which came from Yanni Wetzell.
--Field Level Media
Vanderbilt | Missouri | |
Aaron Nesmith 19 | Scoring | Jeremiah Tilmon 19 |
Saben Lee 7 | Assists | Jordan Geist 6 |
Aaron Nesmith 4 | Rebounds | Kevin Puryear 10 |
Aaron Nesmith 9 | Free Throws Made | Jeremiah Tilmon 5 |
Saben Lee 1 | Steals | Kevin Puryear 1 |
Clevon Brown 2 | Blocks | Mitchell Smith 1 |
Team | Points | FG% | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA | Assists | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Turnovers |
Vanderbilt | 67 | 43.5 | 7-24 | 20-26 | 11 | 21 | 4 | 2 | 12 |
Missouri | 77 | 45.8 | 7-22 | 16-24 | 14 | 35 | 2 | 4 | 9 |