COLUMBIA, Mo. — Digital box score, highlights, and recap as No. 7 Tennessee handed 12th ranked Missouri its first defeat of the season after the Volunteers picked up a 73-53 victory to open Southeastern Conference play on Wednesday night.
Pons Stars For Tennessee
Santiago Vescovi scored 15 points on 5 of 7 shooting with three 3-pointers, while Yves Pons and Jaden Springer each scored 13 points for Tennessee (7-0, 1-0 SEC), which collected its first win against a ranked opponent this season.
Pons, who had a season-high, made 5 of 9 shots from the field, also ended with six rebounds, four blocks, and two steals.
“This is what I do. Play hard on defense, try to block shots, try to fix plays,” said Pons.
“Yves Pons was terrific,” Tennessee coach Rick Barnes said. “That’s the player we know he can be. If you could have heard the reception he got when he came off the TV interview into the locker room, it would show you the respect his teammates have for him.”
John Fulkerson added 11 points and six rebounds for the Volunteers, who were 27 of 54 for 50.0% shooting from the field and edged Missouri 36-33 in rebounding.
Only Xavier Pinson, who scored 11 points, managed to reach double figures in scoring for Missouri (6-1), which was held to its lowest total of the season – just under the 54 points it tallied in a tight win over Bradley last week.
The Tigers, who averaged over 11 assists per game entering Wednesday night’s contest, were held to just six helpers and shot 18.8% from 3-point range.
“They played with more grit, more toughness and more focus,” Missouri coach Cuonzo Martin said of Tennessee.
UP NEXT
The Tennessee Volunteers are returning home to play Alabama on Saturday.
The Missouri Tigers will travel to take on Arkansas on Saturday.
More Links: Box Score | Team Stats | Videos
Volunteers 7-0, 1-0 CONF
TENNESSEE (7-0)
Fulkerson 4-9 3-4 11, Bailey 4-6 0-0 9, James 1/3 0-0 2, Vescovi 5-7 2-2 15, Pons 5-9 3-4 13, Springer 4-7 4-5 13, Johnson 3-6 0-1 6, Anosike 0-3 0-2 0, Nkamhoua 0-1 0-0 0, Gaines 1-1 1-4 3, Pember 0-1 0-0 0, Plavsic 0-1 1-2 1. Totals 27-54 14-24 73.
MISSOURI (6-1)
Brown 2-8 0-0 4, Tilmon 3-5 3-6 9, Pinson 2-7 6-9 11, D.Smith 2-6 2-2 6, Ma.Smith 2-2 2/3 6, Buggs 0-2 0-0 0, Pickett 1-4 2-4 4, Mi.Smith 1-5 1-2 4, Watson 1-2 0-0 3, Wilmore 0-0 0-0 0, Braun 2/3 2-4 6. Totals 16-44 18-30 53.
Halftime–Tennessee 38-25. 3-Point Goals–Tennessee 5-7 (Vescovi 3-4, Springer 1-1, Bailey 1-2), Missouri 3-16 (Watson 1-2, Mi.Smith 1-3, Pinson 1-4, Braun 0-1, D.Smith 0-2, Brown 0-4). Rebounds–Tennessee 31 (Fulkerson, Pons 6), Missouri 30 (Mi.Smith 6). Assists–Tennessee 9 (James 4), Missouri 5 (D.Smith, Buggs 2). Total Fouls–Tennessee 24, Missouri 24. A–3,164 (15,061).
How To Watch No. 7 Tennessee At No. 12 Missouri; Predictions & Picks
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