COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Kennedy Chandler scored 23 points to lead No. 17 Tennessee to an 80-61 victory over Missouri on Tuesday night.
Chandler, a freshman guard averaging 13.2 points, eclipsed that average with 14 points in the first half for the Volunteers (20-7, 11-4 Southeastern Conference). The 6-foot, 172-pound Chandler was far too quick for the Tigers’ big, bulky backcourt players. He made 9 of 12 shots and added eight rebounds and six assists without a turnover.
Santiago Vescovi made 4 of 6 3-pointers and scored 14 points, and Victor Bailey Jr. added 11 points for Tennessee.
Javon Pickett led Missouri (10-18, 4-11) with 16 points, and Kobe Brown had 12 points and nine rebounds.
Tennessee’s talent barely dipped when coach Rick Barnes went to his bench as the reserves had their way with Missouri.
In the first half, the Volunteers outscored the Tigers 15-3 in bench points on the way to a 36-27 lead. The Tigers went more seven minutes without a basket early in the second half as Tennessee opened a 21-point lead to put the game out of reach.
BIG PICTURE
Tennessee: The Volunteers rank fourth in the country in steal percentage — coming up with steals on 13.9% of their opponents’ possessions — which was bad news for a turnover-prone Missouri team without a true point guard. Tennessee came up with five steals in the first half and scored nine points off turnovers to take control of the game.
Missouri: A season that has turned into a slog for coach Cuonzo Martin and the Tigers continued with a home loss in front of another sparse crowd at Mizzou Arena. After losing eight players from a team that made the NCAA Tournament in 2021, Martin’s attempt to reload with four transfers and four freshmen has fallen flat. Missouri is headed to its third losing season in Martin’s five years at the school.
UP NEXT
Tennessee: Returns home for a Saturday game against No. 3 Auburn.
Missouri: Travels to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to face LSU on Saturday.
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