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Mizzou's Pierce and Barrett star against Mississippi State
The duo combined for 29 points and set the pace for the Tigers from the jump
Feb. 1, 2026 at 5:15pm
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Missouri's win over Mississippi State was powered by the efforts of junior forward Trent Pierce and sophomore guard T.O. Barrett. The duo combined for 29 points and set the pace for the Tigers from the start, with Pierce knocking down his first two 3-point attempts and Barrett finishing with 16 points and 8 rebounds.
Why it matters
The performances of Pierce and Barrett reflect a shift in Missouri's offense towards a more assertive and confident attack, with the two players growing into their new roles and providing an identity built on pace and belief in opportunity.
The details
Pierce made an immediate impact, scoring 8 of Missouri's first 15 points, while Barrett's aggressiveness and efficiency helped steady the team during key stretches. Head coach Dennis Gates praised both players, saying 'Players make plays' and that they showed 'guts' and a 'short-term memory' in their play.
- Missouri defeated Mississippi State on Jan. 31 in Mizzou Arena.
- Pierce hit a buzzer-beater to send the Tigers into overtime against Oklahoma on Jan. 24.
The players
Trent Pierce
A junior forward for Missouri who has primarily filled the role of an off-the-bench sparkplug, but made his first start of the season against Mississippi State and had an 'amazing start' according to head coach Dennis Gates.
T.O. Barrett
A sophomore guard for Missouri who was recently inserted into the starting lineup at point guard. He has played with a renewed aggressiveness that has reshaped Missouri's offense into a much more assertive attack.
Mark Mitchell
A senior forward for Missouri who once again finished as the team's leading scorer against Mississippi State.
Dennis Gates
The head coach of the Missouri Tigers basketball team, who praised the performances of Pierce and Barrett and said 'Players make plays' and that they showed 'guts' and a 'short-term memory' in their play.
What they’re saying
“I obviously tweaked the starting lineup, and Trent Pierce had an amazing start, as I predicted. I mean, he had a great practice … I thought he took a jump tonight, just showing his value out there on the court and the confidence that he has on both ends.”
— Dennis Gates, Head Coach
“T.O and some other teammates found me when I was open. Ultimately, I feel like, just in practice, we've been working on just our transition and our offensive execution, and we were able to do that in the first couple minutes.”
— Trent Pierce, Junior Forward
“T.O Barrett, tremendous job. I thought he had an amazing game, without a doubt.”
— Dennis Gates, Head Coach
The takeaway
The performances of Pierce and Barrett reflect a shift in Missouri's offense towards a more assertive and confident attack, with the two players growing into their new roles and providing an identity built on pace and belief in opportunity. Their rise offers more than just scoring for the Tigers, it provides a foundation of trust, fearlessness, and a commitment to making plays.
