GAME THREAD: Mizzou visits Vanderbilt

Live updates, analysis

Final: Missouri picks up its first road SEC win of the season in a 61-52 win over Vanderbilt. Not a win that moves the needle but it does keep the Tigers on track to possibly avoid a Wednesday SEC Tournament game.

3:39 2H: Vanderbilt is hanging around but Missouri leads 53-48. Xavier Pinson has 11 points this half, Mitchell Smith has quietly pulled down 10 boards. Curious, though, to see that Tray Jackson hasn’t seen the floor tonight.

11:41 2H: Missouri is up 42-35 after an 11-3 run. Vanderbilt hasn’t made a field goal since the 19:06 mark this half. If there’s a time for the Tigers to put this one away, it’s now.

15:51 2H: Missouri is back ahead now 36-32. Xavier Pinson, after scoring just two points in the first half and playing just eight minutes, has seven quick points in the second to put the Tigers ahead.

3:13 1H: Just like that, Missouri trails 27-20. Vanderbilt has made its last four shot attempts and six of its last eight. The Commodores are on a 13-4 run and Scotty Pippen Jr. has eight of those points in the run.

7:36 1H: Missouri is up 16-14 on the road. The Tigers hold the slim lead but both teams are shooting the opposite of well from all over the floor. Vanderbilt’s Scotty Pippen Jr. leads all scorers so far with seven points.

11:42 1H: Missouri leads 9-6. Only four fouls called through over eight minutes of game time — you love to see that. Jeremiah Tilmon missed both free throws after getting fouled down low but made up for it with a two-handed volleyball block a couple minutes later. Vanderbilt hasn’t scored since the 17:00 mark.

14:22 1H: Missouri leads Vanderbilt 7-6. Mark Smith, seeing his first game action since Jan. 28 in a win over Georgia, knocked down a loooong 3-pointer to give the Tigers the lead. Also looks like Jeremiah Tilmon is ready to check in, which means both of Missouri’s long-injured starters will see the floor tonight. That’s a good sign heading into the last two weeks of the regular season.

Pregame notes

Missouri hasn’t had many should-wins over the past few months, but even though the Tigers find themselves on the road in Nashville tonight, this is surely a should-win against Vanderbilt.

The Commodores have just one win in conference play and walk into the game down multiple contributors. Missouri, on the other hand, is starting its easiest stretch of conference play and is still in position to avoid a Wednesday game in the SEC Tournament, and a win over Vanderbilt would be a nice way to get that ball rolling.

Hoops Preview: Vanderbilt, like Missouri, enters the home stretch short-handed

The Details

Opponent: Vanderbilt Commodores (9-18, 1-13 SEC)

Time: 8 p.m. CT

Where: Memorial Gymnasium, Nashville TN

Is Mizzou Receiving Top 25 Votes? Not this time

What Does Vegas Say? Mizzou, -2

Where To Watch: ESPNU | WatchESPN

Radio: Tiger Radio Network // Sirius/XM -119/199

Twitter: @MizzouHoops

Facebook: Mizzou Men’s Basketball

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Five Questions!

1. Can Xavier Pinson hit 20-plus points?
2. Over/under 40.5 combined fouls?
3. How many minutes does Tray Jackson see tonight?
4. Who is your trifecta for the game?
5. What will the final score be?