1. Classy move by Vanderbilt head coach Bryce Drew to allow for senior guard Matthew Fisher-Davis to dress out and start today’s game, despite having missed the past 12 games with a ‘season-ending’ shoulder injury. Jeff Roberson entered the circle at halfcourt but did not jump allowing for Jeremiah Tilmon to win the tip for Missouri. Maxwell Evans immediately fouled to allow Fisher-Davis to leave with a standing ovation from the Memorial Gym crowd.
2. Roberson came out with the emotions that you’d expect from a senior playing in his final game. Roberson scored 11 of Vanderbilt’s first 16 points, shooting 4-5 from the field and 3-4 from 3-point range. On the night, Roberson finished with a team-high 19 points in his final game at Memorial.
3. Three-point field goals were the difference in the first half for Vanderbilt. The Commodores shot 8-15 from deep but only 4-12 from two. For the half, Vandy shot 44 percent from the floor, while Missouri shot 50 percent. Vanderbilt also failed to attempt a free throw in the first half, Missouri went 3-4.
4. It appears that teams have adjusted to Riley LaChance over the last few games. The senior struggled in the first half Saturday against Texas A&M, scoring 3 before having 20 in the second half, on way to a game-high 23. Again tonight, LaChance struggled to get going in the first half scoring 6 points on 2-8 shooting. LaChance scored 11 after halftime to bring his point total of the night to 17.
5. Vanderbilt went cold midway through the second half. The Commodores went scoreless over 6:23 and missed six consecutive shots from the field until LaChance knocked down a three to end the drought. Missouri capitalized on the Vandy’s shooting woes, going on a 13-2 run to build a 52-40 lead with 7:43 left.
6. Vanderbilt had trouble getting stops on Saturday vs. A&M and that was the case again tonight. Even when the Commodores looked to be on a run they couldn’t hold Missouri on the defensive end. Jordan Barnett was instrumental in Mizzou’s run, scoring all 14 of his points in the second half, connecting on 4-5 from three. As a team, Mizzou shot 58 percent and 12-22 from behind the arc.
7. Potential NBA lottery-pick Michael Porter Jr. was on the bench again tonight but that didn’t mean a Porter couldn’t terrorize the Dores. The younger Porter, Jontay, scored a career-high 24 points on 9-10 shooting and a perfect 4-4 from deep.
8. The loss for Vanderbilt closes out a disappointing season for the Commodores at Memorial Gym.The Commodores had won five straight before losing the past two against Texas A&M and Missouri. The loss of Luke Kornet was assured to have an impact on the team but no one expected for Vandy to take this big of a slide from an NCAA Tournament berth a year ago. The Dores SEC Tournament seeding is still undetermined. Regardless of what Ole Miss does tomorrow night at Kentucky, the winner of Saturday’s contest will own the potential tiebreaker and avoid the No. 14 seed in St. Louis. For Vanderbilt to do just that, they’ll have to win for the first time on the road this season.
