COLUMBIA, Mo. — Mark Mitchell scored 19 points as Missouri demonstrated strong defense down the stretch, not allowing Vanderbilt to score in the final two minutes, leading to a 75-66 victory on Saturday.
The Tigers maintained control throughout the game, but a late rally by Vanderbilt, featuring an 8-0 run, brought the Commodores close at 61-60 with just over five minutes remaining. However, Missouri held firm; a critical layup from Caleb Grill extended their lead to 68-63 with two and a half minutes left. At 2:11, Jason Edwards of Vanderbilt managed to hit three free throws to narrow the gap to 68-66, but that would be the last points the Commodores would score.
Grill responded by making three free throws to push the score to 71-66 with 1:52 left, while Mitchell sealed the game with a three-point play at 1:20, increasing the Tigers’ lead to eight points. He concluded the scoring with one free throw, bringing the final tally to 75-66.
In addition to Mitchell’s scoring, Anthony Robinson II contributed significantly for Missouri, finishing with 15 points and eight assists. Grill added 13 points to the mix, while Josh Gray dominated the rebounding game with 11 boards.
On the other side, Jason Edwards was the standout for Vanderbilt, putting up 20 points. MJ Collins chipped in 13 points, Chris Manon added 10 points, and Devin McGlockton grabbed 10 rebounds in a solid effort.
Missouri started strong, draining four 3-pointers in the first few minutes to establish an early 14-2 lead. Though Vanderbilt clawed back to within 17-12, Mitchell’s scoring burst and a subsequent 10-0 run from the Tigers extended the lead to 39-22 with under five minutes in the half. Vanderbilt managed a late seven-point run to finish the half, reducing Missouri’s lead to 41-32 by halftime.
With this victory, Missouri continues to thrive at home, which contributes to a favorable 15-2 record for home teams in their matchups. Overall, Missouri now holds a 10-8 advantage in the series against Vanderbilt.
Looking ahead, Missouri is set to play against the eighth-ranked Florida on Tuesday, while Vanderbilt will host South Carolina on Wednesday.
