Mizzou unofficially tips off basketball season with 100-91 win
The Missouri Tiger offense got the 2025-26 season started on a high note.
Mizzou shot 55 percent from the field (34-of-62) and knocked down 26 attempts at the free-throw line to build a 100-91 win against Kansas State at Mizzou Arena on Friday. The exhibition win unofficially tipped off the season.
The first official game will come Nov. 3 when the Tigers play at Howard.
“There’s rusty edges,” Missouri coach Dennis Gates said. “… I thought our guys did do a great job of the overall game plan and our staff did a great job preparing them.”
Mizzou junior guard Anthony Robinson led the Tigers with a phenomenal day. He shot 6-of-6 from the field to build a 16-point day, while also dishing out a team-high four assists, bringing down two rebounds, poking away one steal and blocking one shot.
West Virginia transfer Jayden Stone added 16 points off the bench in 18 minutes played, helped by a 6-of-6 day at the free-throw line.
“I’m not gonna lie, I was pretty nervous,” Stone said of his first game in more than a year. “I didn’t know what to expect. I was just grateful that coach gave me the opportunity to play and to be here.”
The Tigers also got a double-double from Arizona State transfer center Shawn Phillips, who contributed 14 points and 10 rebounds. Phillips shot 7-of-8 from the field.
“I’m more proud of his 10 rebounds, as he would say the same,” Gates said. “… Love coaching Shawn Phillips. He’s been a great teammate to all his guys in the locker room.”
Sophomore Annor Boateng added 15 points to become the fourth Tiger in double figures, while also grabbing six rebounds.
“I really just got that full summer ahead of me,” Boateng said. “Compared to last year, I was sitting out a lot because of my injury.”
The Tigers held the lead for 36:04 out of 40 minutes.
Momentum changer
The teams went back and forth early with Kansas State going on a 11-2 run to take a 16-10 lead with 12:58 left in the first half.
But Robinson led a charge to put the Tigers in front for good.
Robinson hit a layup, then created space for himself for a jumper from the free-throw line to bring Mizzou within 16-14. The junior guard then dished a pass to a cutting Boateng under the basket for an and-1 layup to put Mizzou in front.
Robinson then added a fastbreak layup, a 3 from the left wing and a jumper to create a 24-16 lead.
In all, Robinson scored nine points in a 12-0 run and the Tigers never trailed again.
The Tigers played every player on the roster except Trent Pierce and Trent Burns. Burns is continuing in his return-to-play protocol after a medical procedure leading up to the season.
Pierce came out for warmups in a hoodie and did not participate.
“Trent Pierce has been practicing, he had a good warmup today,” Gates said. “I was just making a decision to play other guys.”
Near the end of the first quarter, Mizzou power forward Mark Mitchell went up for an offensive rebound and came down on his left arm. After a scary moment, Mitchell was removed from the game.
“I didn’t have intentions playing (Mitchell) or Ant (Robinson) more than 25 minutes,” Gates said. “… He could have played, trust me.”
In the second half, he was seen on the Tiger bench with ice wrapped around his wrist.
Stats
Here is a look at how the rest of the roster performed:
- Sebastian Mack: 9 points on 4-of-7 shooting (0-of-2 from 3). Two rebounds, one steal, one block.
- Jevon Porter: 7 points on 3-of-8 shooting (1-of-4 from 3). Two rebounds, two assists, three turnovers, one steal.
- Mitchell: 5 points on 2-of-3 shooting. two assists, one rebound, one block, one steal.
- Aaron Rowe: 5 points on 5-of-5 shooting from the free-throw line (0-of-1 from the field). Two assists.
- T.O. Barrett: 7 points on 3-of-6 shooting. Four rebounds, two assists, one steal.
- Nicholas Randall: 1 point on 1-of-2 shooting from the free-throw line (0-of-1 from the field). Three rebounds.
- Jacob Crews: 5 points on 1-of-6 shooting (1-of-5 from 3). Three rebounds.
- Luke Northweather: no points on 0-of-2 shooting. Three rebounds.
“In exhibition situations like this, I want more film than anything,” Gates said. “… I just want consistency.”
Mizzou shot just 6-of-22 (27.3 percent) from 3.
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