COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Men's Basketball fell to No. 3 Tennessee 87-63 Tuesday night at Mizzou Arena, snapping the team's previous six-game win streak. The Tigers were paced by their backcourt, as freshman guard Xavier Pinson had a career-high 14 points, and senior guard Jordan Geist chipped in with a balanced line of 12 points, four rebounds and five assists. Senior forward Kevin Puryear also had a productive night, going for nine points and five boards.
The Tiger offense, which had averaged 72.3 points over the six-game win streak, was held to just 63 points, while the Tigers' normally suffocating defense surrendered 87 points to a dynamic Tennessee attack. It was the most points given up by Mizzou this season.
TURNING POINT
Despite losing two of its top players for the half to foul trouble in sophomore guard Mark Smith and sophomore forward Jeremiah Tilmon, Mizzou was able to jump on the Volunteers early, going on an 11-0 run in the first half. The run started at the 13:34 mark of the first period, and ended at the 10:42 mark of the frame, as the Tigers held the Vols scoreless for nearly three minutes while getting buckets from Pinson, freshman guard Javon Pickett, sophomore forward K.J. Santos and a three-pointer from Geist. The lead was as much as nine midway through the first period, as the Tigers led 27-18 with 7:04 left to play in half number one.
However, Tennessee punched back in a big way, closing the half on a 24-4 run to take an 11 point lead into the break. Though the Tigers would cut the lead down to 10 in the early part of the second half, they would never get closer than that.
TOP TIGERS
- Geist was again for the catalyst for Mizzou in the first half during its surge, as he scored all 12 of his points in the period. He also had three rebounds and four assists in the first frame.
- Mark Smith kept his red-hot shooting from distance going, as he shot 2-of-3 against the Vols. He is now up to 47.1 percent from deep this season.
- Santos scored a season-high seven points, while also pulling down three rebounds.
GAME NOTES
- Mizzou dished out 12 assists as a team, marking the 11th time the Tigers have crossed the double-digit threshold in 12 games this season. They have registered at least 12 in six of those contests, including their last four games in a row.
- Mizzou was dominant on the offensive glass, going for 13 offensive rebounds against Tennessee. It was the team's second highest total of the season, bested only by the 17-rebound effort on the offensive glass against UCF (17, 12/2/18).
- With his 2-of-3 performance from deep, Mark Smith kept his SEC-best shooting percentage up. He now is shooting 47.1 percent from three this season.
- With his 12 points against the Vols, Geist has now scored in double figures in nine of his last 10 games.
UP NEXT
Mizzou heads out on the road for the first time in conference play this season, traveling to Columbia, S.C. for a battle with the Gamecocks. That game is set to tip at 12 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 12, and will be televised on the SEC Network.
For all the latest on Mizzou Basketball, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (@MizzouHoops).
