NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt secured a thrilling 97-93 overtime victory against No. 14 Missouri, marking their third consecutive triumph. Chris Manon was the star of the night with 23 points and a game-high 11 rebounds leading Vanderbilt.
The Commodores saw significant contributions from several players, with AJ Hoggard adding 21 points, Jason Edwards chipping in 17, and Tyler Nickel contributing 12. This crucial win brings Vanderbilt’s record to 20-9 overall and 8-8 in the Southeastern Conference.
Missouri, now standing at 21-8 with a 10-6 conference record, saw a standout performance from Caleb Grill, who scored 28 points. Mark Mitchell added 20, while Anthony Robinson II and Tamar Bates both scored 16 for the Tigers.
The first half saw Missouri turning a close 25-24 score into a 38-29 halftime lead following a 14-5 scoring run with just under five minutes remaining. Vanderbilt later stormed back in the second half, thanks to a layup from MJ Collins Jr. that gave them their first lead at 57-56 with 9:13 left in regulation.
Missouri’s challenge was evident despite their efforts; the Tigers struggled with their shooting early on and were unable to thwart the Commodores, resulting in their second loss in three games after an impressive 101-71 victory over South Carolina.
Vanderbilt’s victory significantly bolsters their NCAA Tournament prospects, marking their third consecutive win against a top-ranked team after previous victories over No. 24 Ole Miss and No. 12 Texas A&M. The key moment came when Tyler Nickel sank a 3-pointer to tie the game at 81-81 with four seconds left in regulation. AJ Hoggard further cemented the win by scoring seven points in overtime.
From the free-throw line, Vanderbilt was successful on 21 of 24 attempts, including going 8 for 8 in the second half. Meanwhile, Missouri converted 28 of 35 free throws. Moving forward, Missouri is set to face Oklahoma on Wednesday, while Vanderbilt will prepare to host Arkansas on Tuesday night.
