The No. 4 Volunteers flipped an 11-point deficit back onto the No. 15 Tigers, coming back from a double-digit deficit early in the second half to earn an 85-81 victory.
Mizzou (17-5, 6-3 Southeastern Conference) lost despite a halftime advantage for just the second time this season — MU had won the past 16 games it led at half. Guard Tamar Bates led the Tigers with 22 points, all of which came in the second half.
Tennessee benefited from a hot shooting night and the scoring chops of its two starters who returned to action after one-game absences: point guard Zakai Zeigler and forward Igor Milicic Jr.