Missouri @ Vanderbilt preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 2, 2019 ) Vanderbilt 67, Missouri 77

Missouri lost the momentum of its first SEC winning streak of the season and will try to resume its winning ways against host Vanderbilt on Wednesday. The Tigers had won two straight, including an 85-73 victory over No. 15 Auburn on Feb. 15, before losing at Arkansas 78-68 on Saturday and will try to climb at least one rung in the conference standings to avoid playing in the first round of the SEC Tournament.

Missouri is 0-7 away from home in the SEC and 1-9 in true road games this season with coach Cuonzo Martin telling the media: “It’s a road environment and it becomes more mental focus, the concentration, the attention to detail.” The Commodores have lost five straight since defeating then-No. 18 LSU 99-90 on Feb. 5 for their only conference victory of the season. It appeared Vanderbilt was on its way to a second SEC victory Saturday before Tyree Crump's 35-foot 3-pointer gave Georgia an 80-78 victory. "We just got to keep fighting,” Commodores coach Jerry Stackhouse, who played four walk-ons in the first half, told reporters. "Keep trying to build and keep the guys confident.”

TIME: 9 p.m. ET. TV: ESPNU

ABOUT MISSOURI (13-14. 5-9 SEC): Kobe Brown (6.1 points per game) became the second freshman to record a double-double in conference play (Jontay Porter in 2017-18) for the Tigers when the forward erupted for season highs of 17 points and 10 rebounds against Arkansas. Junior guard Dru Smith (team-high 12.6 points) has scored in double figures in five straight games and has averaged 20 over his last four contests after recording 15 points and eight rebounds Saturday. Junior forward Jeremiah Tilmon (8.5 points) was cleared to play Saturday after missing four games with a foot injury but Martin kept him on the sidelines, telling the media: “Jeremiah's cleared from a doctor standpoint … but I just think he still needs to get reps under his belt in practice to be ready for game situations. It’s one (thing) being cleared, but also the comfort of being in game situations, the rhythm … he hasn’t practiced really. He hasn’t been up and down the floor.”

ABOUT VANDERBILT (9-18, 1-13): Junior guard Saben Lee recorded a career-high 34 points Saturday - 22 in the first half as the Commodores took a 40-32 lead, raising his average to 17.9 points. Freshman guard Scotty Pippen Jr., son of Hall of Famer Scottie, scored 20 versus Georgia - one shy of his season high - and contributes 11.3 per game. Junior guard Maxwell Evans (8.3 points), who scored a career-high 31 against LSU, has scored 10 points in three of the last four games.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The Tigers and Commodores would meet in the first round of the SEC Tournament should they maintain their positions in the standings.

2. Vanderbilt lost its last two games by a total of six points after losing their previous three by 42.

3. Missouri has won three straight meetings after a 77-67 victory last season behind 19 points from Tilmon.

PREDICTION: Vanderbilt 69, Missouri 68