Mizzou holds on to beat Mississippi State

Tigers survive late Bulldogs comeback attempt to claim SEC victory

Jan. 31, 2026 at 6:39pm

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Mizzou held on for an 84-79 win against Mississippi State at Mizzou Arena on Saturday, despite a late comeback attempt by the Bulldogs. The Tigers led by as much as 15 points in the second half, but Mississippi State cut the lead to just 3 points with under 2 minutes to play. However, Mizzou made 10 of 12 free throws in the final minutes to seal the victory.

Why it matters

This win keeps Mizzou in the hunt for an NCAA Tournament bid, as the Tigers look to make the Big Dance for the third time in four seasons under head coach Dennis Gates. The game also highlighted both the strengths and weaknesses of this Mizzou team, which has shown the ability to dominate opponents but has also struggled with consistency at times.

The details

Mizzou jumped out to a 13-4 lead to start the game, led by 3-pointers from Trent Pierce and T.O. Barrett. But the Tigers' offense went cold after that, allowing Mississippi State to take a brief lead. Mizzou responded with more 3-pointers to regain control, taking a 42-35 lead into halftime. The Tigers extended their advantage to as much as 15 points in the second half, but a scary injury to Annor Boateng seemed to disrupt their focus. Mississippi State then went on a 20-8 run to make it a one-possession game, but Mizzou hit its free throws down the stretch to hold on.

  • Mizzou led for 37:18 of the 40 minutes.
  • Annor Boateng's injury occurred with 11:03 left in the game, when the Tigers led 66-51.

The players

Annor Boateng

A Mizzou sophomore who suffered an apparent knee injury after a dunk attempt in the second half.

Dennis Gates

The head coach of the Mizzou men's basketball team, who is in his third season leading the Tigers.

T.O. Barrett

A Mizzou guard who scored 16 points, including going 8-for-8 from the free throw line.

Trent Pierce

A Mizzou player who made his first start of the season and scored 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting.

Mark Mitchell

The leading scorer for Mizzou with 19 points, to go along with 7 rebounds and 4 assists.

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What they’re saying

“Me personally, it kind of messed me (up) a little bit mentally. Just seeing my brother go down like that. You could see the pain on his face, like the facial expressions he made. But ultimately, we kept pushing through.”

— T.O. Barrett, Guard

“Speedy recovery to Annor Boateng. Don't know the specifics yet. But nine times out of 10, he'll be out for the remainder of the season.”

— Dennis Gates, Head Coach

“We knew Mississippi State was going to fight back. We knew that, but we gave them opportunities. Empty opportunities on the offensive end led to easy baskets and 3-point plays and almost four-point plays. I thought our guys did a great job of not panicking.”

— Dennis Gates, Head Coach

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This game highlighted the ups and downs of Mizzou's season so far, with the team showing its potential to dominate opponents but also struggling to maintain focus and composure at times. The injury to Annor Boateng was a concerning moment, but the Tigers' ability to hit free throws down the stretch to hold on for the win could prove valuable as they continue their push for an NCAA Tournament berth.