SEC Tournament: Missouri eliminates Vols in quarterfinals

SEC Tournament: Missouri eliminates Tennessee basketball in the quarterfinals

No. 4 seed Missouri (24-8, 11-7 SEC) defeated No. 5 seed Tennessee (23-10, 11-7 SEC), 79-71, in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals Friday at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.

The Vols had a 33-30 lead at halftime, but the Tigers rallied to notch a comeback victory in a game that was tied 13 times and featured 11 lead changes.

It was Missouri’s second win of the season against Tennessee. The Tigers earned an 86-85 victory in Knoxville last month as DeAndre Gholston hit a midcourt jumper as time expired.

In Friday’s game, the Vols had five players total 10-plus points. Santiago Vescovi led Tennessee with 17 points. Tyreke Key added 16 points, while Jahmai Mashack scored 14. Olivier Nkamhoua recorded 11 points and 10 rebounds, while Julian Phillips totaled 10 points and eight rebounds for the Vols.

The Tigers ended the contest on a 10-2 run and shot 60 percent (18-for-30) after halftime.

D’Moi Hodge led Missouri, which will make its first appearance in the SEC Tournament semifinals, with 26 points. Kobe Brown finished with 24 points and nine rebounds.

The Tigers will play No. 1 seed Alabama at 1 p.m. EST on Saturday.

PHOTOS: Tennessee-Missouri basketball in 2023 SEC Tournament

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