Missouri Tigers Face South Carolina Gamecocks in SEC Matchup

Tigers look to bounce back from recent road woes against struggling Gamecocks squad

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

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The Missouri Tigers will travel to Columbia, South Carolina to take on the Gamecocks in a key SEC matchup. Missouri has struggled on the road in conference play, going just 1-3 away from home. The Tigers will look to avoid more self-inflicted errors that have plagued them in recent road losses. South Carolina sits near the bottom of the SEC standings, but no road game has been easy for Missouri this season.

Why it matters

For Missouri's hopes of making the NCAA Tournament, this is a game the Tigers need to win. They'll also have to find some upsets along the way through the rest of conference play. A loss to the struggling Gamecocks could be a major setback for Missouri's postseason aspirations.

The details

Missouri will be without starting guard Annor Boateng, who was ruled out for the season after undergoing surgery. Starting forward Jevon Porter also remains sidelined. However, center Shawn Phillips Jr. is expected to play after spraining his ankle in the last game. South Carolina has its full roster available. The Tigers will look to avoid the self-inflicted mistakes, like poor free throw shooting and turnovers, that have plagued them on the road this season.

  • The game will tip off at noon on Saturday, February 7, 2026.
  • Missouri is entering the second half of its SEC schedule with this matchup.

The players

Mark Mitchell

Missouri's leading scorer, who had 19 points in the team's last outing against Mississippi State.

Meechie Johnson

South Carolina's top scorer, who poured in 35 points in the Gamecocks' last game against Texas.

Dennis Gates

Missouri's head coach, who has emphasized the need for his team to eliminate self-inflicted mistakes on the road.

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What they’re saying

“Even if you play your very best, but you can lose a game by self infliction. You can beat yourself if you're not connected. We want to eliminate those things, because the game of basketball in itself is difficult, but we want to give ourselves an opportunity on that road. Just give us the last shot, the last possibility.”

— Dennis Gates, Head Coach, Missouri Tigers (si.com)

What’s next

A win for Missouri would be a crucial step towards securing an NCAA Tournament bid, while a loss could be a major setback. The Tigers will look to build momentum heading into the final stretch of SEC play.

The takeaway

This game represents an opportunity for Missouri to bounce back from recent road struggles and pick up a key conference win against a struggling South Carolina squad. Avoiding self-inflicted errors will be crucial for the Tigers as they continue to push for a spot in the NCAA Tournament.