Missouri Tigers Grind Out Comeback Win Against Mississippi State

The Tigers overcame a late push from the Bulldogs to earn a crucial SEC victory.

Jan. 31, 2026 at 6:47pm

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The Missouri Tigers secured a hard-fought 84-79 victory over the Mississippi State Bulldogs on Saturday afternoon. Despite leading by as much as 16 points in the second half, the Tigers had to hold off a late surge from the Bulldogs to earn the win and keep their NCAA Tournament hopes alive.

Why it matters

This win keeps Missouri afloat in the competitive SEC standings and NCAA Tournament conversations. The Tigers have shown grit and resilience all season, and this game was another example of their ability to grind out a victory even when facing adversity.

The details

Missouri led for the entire game, but Mississippi State made a late push to cut the deficit to just five points. The Tigers struggled to close out the game, going 1-for-7 from the floor in the final three minutes. However, key free throw shooting from T.O. Barrett and timely defensive stops allowed Missouri to hang on for the victory.

  • Missouri led by as much as 16 points in the second half.

The players

T.O. Barrett

A key contributor for the Missouri Tigers, Barrett scored 16 points and grabbed 8 rebounds while going a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line.

Jayden Epps

The leading scorer for Mississippi State, Epps poured in 23 points but also turned the ball over 3 times.

Josh Hubbard

The Bulldogs' starting guard, Hubbard also had 3 turnovers in the losing effort.

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What they’re saying

“Wire to wire is a tough position to be in, but I'll take it any day of the week. I knew and we knew that Mississippi State was going to fight back.”

— Dennis Gates, Missouri Head Coach

“T.O. Barrett, tremendous job. Knocked down eight for eight free throws, 16 points (and) eight rebounds. I thought he had an amazing, amazing game without a doubt.”

— Dennis Gates, Missouri Head Coach

“We just played with a pretty fast pace at the start of the game. We wanted to get going and we found our open shots.”

— T.O. Barrett, Missouri Guard

What’s next

The Tigers will look to build on this win when they travel to face the South Carolina Gamecocks on Saturday, February 7th.

The takeaway

This hard-fought victory showcases the Tigers' resilience and ability to grind out wins, even when facing a late comeback attempt. Missouri's improved free throw shooting and defensive intensity were key factors in securing the victory and keeping their NCAA Tournament hopes alive.