Shorthanded Vanderbilt defeats Missouri

~ The Commodores hit 12 3-pointers in a 78-75 win over the Tigers

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Vanderbilt Commodores are so shorthanded right now that they have no room for error. Hitting a season-high 12 3-pointers helps.

Rod Odom scored a career-high 24 points, hitting six 3-pointers, and the Commodores beat Missouri 78-75 Thursday night in the Tigers' first visit to Memorial Gym as a member of the Southeastern Conference.

"That 3-point shot is a great equalizer," Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings said.

Vanderbilt (9-6, 1-2), which snapped a two-game skid, is down to seven scholarship players after leading scorer Eric McClellan first was suspended from the university, then kicked off the team for good last week. They lost their first two games without McClellan and desperately needed a league win with three of the next four on the road.

"I'm really extremely proud of our team and just really, really proud of them because they had to dig in deep against a very good team to get this victory and they did," Stallings said. "And I'm very happy for them."

Missouri (13-3, 1-2) now has lost two of three. The Tigers were trying to work their way back into the Top 25. Tigers coach Frank Haith kept thinking after the game of a handful of easy layups his Tigers missed that could have been the difference.

"I think what really hurt us. We missed at least seven chippies around the hoop," Haith said.

Kyle Fuller added 22 points for Vanderbilt. Dai-Jon Parker had 11, and Damian Jones added 10. Odom, Fuller and Parker all played 40 minutes.

"For me personally, playing 40 minutes is always OK," Odom said. "That's why you come to college is to play. We both have a great opportunity to play more than anybody could imagine."

Fuller laughed when asked if knowing Stallings has little option but to keep the senior guard on the floor. He had five assists with three turnovers. Fuller said he'll play as long as Stallings needs him to play.

"I'm just thankful we came out with a win today," Fuller said.

Jabari Brown scored 22 points for Missouri, while Jordan Clarkson had 18 and Ross 11.

These are two of the SEC's best shooting teams and the league's best defending against the 3-pointer with Vanderbilt (27.8 percent) just ahead of Missouri (28.6 percent). The Commodores shredded Missouri's defense as they knocked down 3 after 3 and finished 12 of 32 (37.5 percent) -- both season-highs allowed by the Tigers. That more than made up for Missouri outrebounding Vanderbilt 45-35 and the Tigers' 36-16 scoring edge in the paint.