Life on the bubble will continue to be a precarious situation for Mizzou. The Tigers are now 18-8, 8-5 in Southeastern Conference play. With tiebreakers applied to the SEC standings, Mizzou now sits in sixth place, ahead of both Kentucky and Vandy.

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Jayden Stone had 19 points, Trent Pierce and T.O. Barrett each added 16 and Missouri held off No. 19 Vanderbilt 81-80 on Wednesday night after squandering a big lead.

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Mizzou men's basketball managed to hang on, despite a late comeback from No. 19 Vanderbilt, for an 81-80 win on Norm Stewart Court, on Wednesday night. Vanderbilt was actually the team that hit the ground running out of the gates,

In the final six minutes, Vanderbilt outscored Missouri 23-11 as it found scores, fouls and defensive stops against the Tigers. A full-court press proved to be the Commodores’ near-saving grace and the Tigers downfall as they committed turnover after turnover.

Senior Mark Mitchell continues to lead the Tigers in scoring, averaging 17.2 points per game. He also leads Mizzou in rebounds, with 5.7 per outing, while center Shawn Phillips Jr. sits right behind him with 5.3 and graduate Jayden Stone averages 5.0.

Mizzou led by as many as 21 points, then had to hold on for dear life in order to beat the No. 19-ranked Vanderbilt Commodores 81-80 in what became a Southeastern Conference nail-biter at Mizzou Arena.