No. 4 Tennessee's 3-point accuracy sinks No. 15 Missouri

Field Level Media|published: Wed 5th February, 21:47 2025

Feb 5, 2025; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers guard Zakai Zeigler (5) moves the ball against the Missouri Tigers during the first half at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-Imagn Images

Zakai Zeigler scored a season-high 21 points and handed out eight assists to help No. 4 Tennessee record an 85-81 victory over No. 15 Missouri on Wednesday night in Southeastern Conference play at Knoxville, Tenn.

Igor Milicic Jr. also had 21 points and a season-best four blocked shots to go with 10 rebounds, five assists and two steals for Tennessee (19-4, 6-4 SEC), which won its second straight game.

Felix Okpara added 12 points and three blocked shots and Jordan Gainey and Chaz Lanier scored 10 points apiece for the Volunteers.

Tamar Bates scored 22 points and Tony Perkins added 16 for Missouri (17-5, 6-3), which lost for just the second time in eight games. Caleb Grill had 11 points for the Tigers, who committed just three turnovers while forcing 11 Tennessee miscues.

The Volunteers were a blistering 10 of 15 from 3-point range and shot 50 percent overall from the field. Zeigler tied his career best by hitting all four of his 3-point attempts.

The Tigers made 41.7 percent of their shots and were 12 of 30 from behind the arc.

The Volunteers led by 14 before Missouri scored nine in a row to pull within 75-70 on two free throws by Bates with 1:40 remaining.

Tennessee pushed the lead back to eight before Bates sank a trey with 1:01 left. The Tigers moved within 83-79 on a 3-pointer by Jacob Crews with 21.7 seconds remaining.

However, Gainey made two of four free throws to help the Volunteers wrap up the victory.

Bates connected on a 3-pointer and Perkins added two free throws to open the second half as Missouri held a 39-28 advantage.

The Volunteers answered with a 15-4 surge. Milicic and Zeigler capped it with treys to tie it at 43 with 15:58 left in the game.

The Tigers later led by two before Lanier drained two 3-pointers in 36 seconds to start an 11-3 burst. Zeigler hit a trey to end the run and give Tennessee a 59-53 lead with 11:42 to play.

Grill buried a 3-pointer to bring Missouri within 60-57 with 10:13 remaining before the Volunteers scored 15 of the next 19 points. Okpara made two free throws to cap it and make it 75-61 with 4:30 left.

Perkins scored 11 first-half points as Missouri led 34-28 at the break.

--Field Level Media