Clarkson helps Missouri hold off Vanderbilt 67-64

Clarkson helps Missouri hold off Vanderbilt 67-64

Published Feb. 19, 2014 10:31 p.m. ET

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) Jordan Clarkson scored 21 points, including all 11 free throw attempts, as Missouri held off Vanderbilt 67-64 on Wednesday.

Earnest Ross added 16 points for the Tigers (19-7, 7-6 SEC), who survived an off-game from top scorer Jabari Brown in a matchup of schools tied for fifth place in the conference. Brown, held to nine points on 3 for 11 shooting, averaged 23.9 points the previous 10 games including 22 the first meeting at Vanderbilt last month.

Damian Jones had 19 points and seven rebounds for Vanderbilt (14-11, 6-7). Down eight points with just over two minutes to go, the Commodores shaved the deficit to two on Kyle Moats' 3-pointer with 19.4 seconds to go.

Kyle Fuller's bid to force overtime on a shot that drew iron from beyond midcourt came after the buzzer. Fuller made just one of 12 shots and had four points, eight below his average.

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Missouri helped make the finish exciting by going 6 for 12 at the free throw line the final 1:31.

Clarkson scored nine points in the final six minutes, including three baskets in a 13-2 run that put the Tigers up 61-53.

Vanderbilt led 21-20 at the half with both teams shooting 33 percent and enduring lengthy dry spells. Missouri went nearly seven minutes without a point and Vanderbilt was scoreless more than 4 1/2 minutes before Jones's tip-in to end the half for the lead.

The first-half scoring total was a season-worst by five points for Missouri. Vanderbilt's season low was 19 points its last time out against Texas A&M.

A half-dozen football players, including quarterback Maty Mauk, signed autographs the hour before the game. Fans also got a chance to pose for photos with the Cotton Bowl trophy and two of the school's Golden Girls cheerleader team.

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