No.4 Tennessee shot better than 50 percent in the second half to upend the latest Mizzou upset bid, flipping the script on the No.15 Tigers, who fell 85-81 Wednesday, Feb. 5 in Knoxville.

The Tigers were scoreless through the first five minutes of the game, but Tennessee had also started cold, allowing Tony Perkins to post 11 of Mizzou’s first 13 points to allow Mizzou to lead for much of the first half. The Tigers built on their 34-28 halftime lead to lead by as much as 11, before the Volunteers erased the lead in the span of just two minutes. The Volunteers led by as much as 14 points, fueled by 52-percent field goal accuracy in the second half, including six-of-ten from three-point range. Mizzou went on a nine-point run to close the gap, but could not overcome the deficit, shooting 42 percent after the half.

Tamar Bates led the Tigers with 22 points, while Perkins added 16 and Caleb Grill chipped in 11 from the bench. Igor Milicic Junior and Zakai Zeigler each had 21 points, among five Tennessee players in double figured. Milicic also had 10 rebounds and five assists. Tennessee dominated in the paint 34-18, while Mizzou countered with 16 fast-break and 17 second-chance points.

The Tigers fall to 17-5 overall, 6-3 in SEC play. They face another top-ten opponent this Saturday, Texas A&M, with tipoff at Mizzou Arena set for 2:30 p.m. We’ll have the game on KMMO AM 1300, with pregame coverage from the Tiger Radio Network starting at 2 p.m.