5 Takeaways: No. 3 Tennessee 87, Missouri 63

Photo by Tennessee Athletics

Tennessee grinded out an 87-63 win at Missouri on Tuesday night. The game began similarly to the Vols’ 59-55 loss to the Tigers in Columbia last season. The Vols led 10-8 early on, but an 11-0 run by the Tigers gave the Vols a 19-10 deficit. Tennessee responded with a 21-8 run of their own, to take a 31-27 lead. After a slow start, Jordan Bone and Jordan Bowden combined to score 21 of Tennessee’s 26 final points of the first half. The Vols were up 42-31 at halftime.

Kyle Alexander made an important impact early in the second half, eluding his defender for 1 of his 2 dunks within the half’s first 6 minutes. The Vols more than doubled their lead in the second half. Once Tennessee began their run and found a rhythm, the Tigers didn’t stand a chance. The Vols reminded everyone why they are ranked No. 3 in the nation.

The Vols made 31-58 field goals (53.4%), shooting 7-19 from 3-point range. Tennessee made 18-21 free throws and out-rebounded the Tigers, 38-29. Additionally, the Vols totaled 12 assists, 5 steals and 6 blocks on the night.

These are our 5 Takeaways from the Vols’ convincing win.

Kyle Alexander is on a Rebounding Rampage

After setting a career-high of 14 rebounds against Georgia, Kyle surpassed his career high again at Missouri. He reached 14 rebounds with just under 9:00 left in the game on Tuesday, finishing with a new career-high of 17. He also recorded 14 points and 3 blocked shots.

In addition to owning the boards as of late, Kyle recorded his second consecutive double-double, scoring 14 points against Missouri. Alexander’s work is sometimes taken for granted, but the extra possessions he gives the Vols on the offensive glass, along with his defense around the rim, are valuable aspects to this team.

Bowden’s Bench Production

Bowden matched his 20 points against Georgia in the SEC opener with another 20-point performance at Missouri. He went 7-12 from the field and became the first Tennessee player in the past 35 years to score 20 or more points off the bench during the Vols’ first 2 SEC games.

He has been more that just a spark off the bench. He is playing some of the best basketball of his Tennessee career. Credit Rick Barnes for moving him to the bench, because it has brought the best out of him.

The Vols Have Reliable Depth

When Grant Williams and Admiral Schofield are struggling, Tennessee’s bench and other key assets are more than capable of picking up the slack. They proved this on Tuesday. The peanut butter and jelly combo of Grant and Admiral combined for a mere 3 points in the first half. Still, the Vols held an 11-point lead.

Admiral finished the night with 14 points, but Grant had just 4 and fouled out in the process. Along with Bowden’s 20-point effort, Jordan Bone contributed 17 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. Lamonté Turner had 9 points off the bench. The Vols don’t just survive when Grant and Admiral struggle, they thrive.

Lamonté Finally Looks Healthy

Lamonté looked like himself on Tuesday night, making his first 3 attempts from 3-point range. In just his second game back in action after his extended absence, he is already shooting with confidence. His high-arching shot is incredible to watch. Every 3-pointer he puts up seems to have a chance of going in. Vol fans could not be happier for Lamonté’s successful return.

Slow Start, Strong Finish

The Vols got off to a less-than-ideal start, but managed to fight back and claim a double-digit halftime lead. Tennessee trailed 27-18 with under 7:00 left in the first half. Their offense was making uncharacteristic mistakes, which led to poor defense.

Despite the rough start, they were able to turn things around. Bone began directing the offense with great leadership, driving to the basket and setting his teammates up to score. Admiral was rolling in the second half. After basically being a non-factor in the first half, he finished with 16 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals. To finish just 1 rebound shy of a double-double after a poor first half is remarkable. As a team, Tennessee shot over 50% from the field for the sixth consecutive game.

Player of the Game: Kyle Alexander