Missouri Upsets Texas A&M With Unusual Last-Second Play

Dennis Gates' bold lob play gives Missouri a crucial Quad 1 win on the road.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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In a tight SEC matchup, Missouri pulled off an upset victory over Texas A&M with a last-second lob play drawn up by head coach Dennis Gates. The game was back-and-forth in the final minutes, with the lead changing hands multiple times. After Missouri missed a chance to take the lead, Gates opted for a bold lob play instead of a typical jump shot attempt. The perfectly executed lob resulted in a go-ahead dunk by Shawn Phillips Jr., and Texas A&M was unable to respond on the final possession, giving Missouri an 86-85 win.

Why it matters

This Quad 1 road win is a major boost to Missouri's NCAA Tournament hopes, as the Tigers look to solidify their spot on the bubble. The unusual last-second play call by Dennis Gates also showcases his creativity and willingness to take risks in high-pressure situations.

The details

In the final minute, the game was tied at 85-85 when Missouri had a chance to take the lead but missed. Instead of drawing up a jump shot, Gates called a timeout and dialed up a lob play. Mark Mitchell threw a perfectly placed pass to Shawn Phillips Jr., who threw down the go-ahead dunk. Texas A&M missed a wide-open shot on the ensuing possession, and Missouri held on for the 86-85 victory.

  • The game was tied 85-85 with under 1 minute remaining.
  • Missouri took a timeout with 25 seconds left on the clock to draw up the final play.

The players

Dennis Gates

The head coach of the Missouri Tigers, who drew up the bold last-second lob play that led to the upset victory.

Shawn Phillips Jr.

The Missouri player who threw down the game-winning dunk off the lob pass from Mark Mitchell.

Mark Mitchell

The Missouri player who threw the perfectly placed lob pass to Shawn Phillips Jr. for the game-winning dunk.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

What’s next

The win gives Missouri a crucial Quad 1 victory as they look to solidify their NCAA Tournament resume. The Tigers will look to build on this momentum in their remaining SEC games.

The takeaway

Dennis Gates' creative last-second play call showcased his coaching acumen and willingness to take risks, leading to a signature upset win that could be a turning point in Missouri's season.