Jaden Springer continues to state his case as Tennessee's most valuable player without picking up a basketball.
The five-star freshman guard watched his second straight game from the sideline as a result of the ankle injury he suffered last weekend against Vanderbilt, and for a second straight contest the No. 6 Volunteers went down without much of a fight. Saturday night's 73-64, wire-to-wire loss to No. 19 Missouri inside Thompson-Boling Arena wasn't nearly as ugly as last Tuesday's 75-49 debacle at Florida, but it did saddle Tennessee with its first two-game skid.
Xavier Pinson became the first player this season to reach 20 points against Tennessee, scoring 27 as Cuonzo Martin's Tigers improved to 10-2 overall and 4-2 in Southeastern Conference play. The Vols (10-3, 4-3) were led by 20 points from Yves Pons.
Vols coach Rick Barnes had demanded more from Pons and fellow senior John Fulkerson after the whipping in Gainesville. Pons seemed to answer the bell in that regard, but Fulkerson scored seven points and committed five turnovers.
Tennessee defeated the Tigers 73-53 at Mizzou Arena on Dec. 30, with a 23-4 opening run by the Vols quickly removing the drama. That triumph was Tennessee's largest ever against a ranked team on the road.
The Tigers got off to the quick start Saturday, grabbing a 13-5 lead and forcing Barnes into calling a timeout at the 13:11 mark of the first half. At that point, the Vols had eight turnovers and two made baskets.
A Pinson 3-pointer with 10:09 before halftime put Missouri up 20-7, but Tennessee finally reduced the miscues and started warming up from the floor, which enabled the Vols to pull within 40-34 at the break. Pinson had 19 first-half points, while Pons countered with 15 for the hosts.
Missouri reclaimed a 13-point lead with 10:42 remaining on a pair of Kobe Brown free throws that resulted from a flagrant foul on Victor Bailey Jr.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524. Follow him on Twitter @DavidSPaschall.