Missouri Basketball Secures Crucial Victory Over Mississippi State

Missouri basketball wrapped up January with a win in a must-win scenario. The Tigers defeated Mississippi State 84-79 on Saturday in Columbia, Missouri, keeping their NCAA Tournament hopes alive. Star forward Mark Mitchell led the way with a 19-point, seven-rebound performance, while point guard T.O. Barrett contributed 16 points, eight rebounds, and four assists. This victory was crucial for Mizzou (15-7, 5-4 SEC), as they were on the edge of the NCAA Tournament bubble and could not afford to lose to a struggling Mississippi State (11-11, 3-6) team at home.

The season continues as the Tigers take a week off before facing South Carolina on February 7 in Columbia, South Carolina. This upcoming game is another key matchup that will determine their tournament fate.

Coach Dennis Gates Reflects on the Win

After the win over Mississippi State, Mizzou head coach Dennis Gates shared his thoughts on the game. He highlighted the team’s improved free throw shooting, which played a significant role in securing the victory. The Tigers went 10-of-12 from the free-throw line in the final two minutes, helping them hold off a late comeback by the Bulldogs.

Gates joked about the improvement, saying, “Look, man, that’s good coaching. That’s good coaching. I was able to telepathically get into their brain right there on the line, start whispering to them, ‘calm down, calm down.’ And you just saw a swish. So, the coaching. I’ll take that today.” While the coach’s comments were lighthearted, it’s clear that the team’s performance at the free-throw line has been a point of focus this season.

Mizzou’s free throw percentage against Mississippi State was 75.8%, a significant jump from their 34.8% performance against Alabama earlier in the week. This improvement shows that the team is making strides in key areas of their game.

Annor Boateng’s Injury Likely Ends His Season

Another major development for the Tigers is the injury to reserve small forward Annor Boateng. According to Gates, Boateng is likely to miss the rest of the season after slipping and falling during a play. The sophomore was driving toward the rim when he slipped, hitting the floor hard and remaining on the ground for several minutes.

Gates did not provide an official update, but early signs suggest that Boateng will not return for the remainder of the season. “Definitely (wish) a speedy recovery to Annor Boateng,” Gates said. “Don’t know the specifics yet, but nine times out of 10 he’ll be out for the remainder of the season.”

Trent Pierce Returns to Starting Lineup

In another move, Mizzou made a switch to its starting lineup, with Trent Pierce returning to the opening five in place of wing Jacob Crews. Pierce had been a starter for much of the 2024-25 season but had not been part of the first five since an injury that kept him out of the nonconference slate.

Pierce took full advantage of the opportunity, hitting two three-pointers within the first three minutes of the game. The Tigers built a nine-point lead before the first media timeout. “Trent Pierce had an amazing start, as I predicted. I mean, he had a great practice,” Gates said. “So, that’s what kind of went into that decision. Especially when it comes down to the last half of our year, being able to allow the first nine games (of SEC play) for him to be able to get in shape, game shape, I thought he took a jump tonight.”

Pierce finished with 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting, including 3-of-6 from beyond the arc. He also added three rebounds and two steals.

Small Ball Strategy in Final Moments

As the game approached its conclusion, Mizzou opted for a small-ball approach. This decision came from two main factors: center Shawn Phillips Jr. sprained his ankle during a play, and Gates wanted to keep his shooters on the floor.

“I would have put (7-foot-5 center) Trent Burns in. I thought he could have made some shots, and I just chose, obviously, the latter, because we wanted to switch defensively, and I didn’t want Trent Burns out there trying to switch and those guys (Mississippi State) ending up with a hot hand,” Gates said. “So, it allowed us to stay in our shell. It allowed us to still rebound. This is one of the top rebounding teams in the conference, and other than the last two minutes, I thought we were leading, if not tied, on the rebounding margin.”