University of Missouri
Howard
Men's Basketball Opens 2025-26 Season at Howard on Monday Night
11/2/2025 8:30:00 AM | Men's Basketball
| Missouri at Howard | |
| Game Details | Monday, November 3 • 6 p.m. CT • Washington, D.C. • Burr Gymnasium |
| Television | ESPN+ |
| Radio | Tiger Radio Network |
| Game Notes | Missouri |
| Game Coverage | Live Stats | Twitter: @MizzouHoops | Instagram: @MizzouHoops |
The Mizzou men's basketball team officially opens its 2025-26 season Monday night, playing on the road at Howard. Tipoff in Washington, D.C., is set for 6 p.m. CT on ESPN+.
ABOUT THE TIGERS
• Missouri finished the 2024-25 season with a 22-12 record, placing sixth in a SEC that sent 14 teams to the NCAA Tournament with a 10-8 record.
• The Tigers earned their second bid in three years to the NCAA Tournament under Dennis Gates.
• MU reached the national tournament as a No. 6 seed – the team's best seed since 2012.
• Mizzou is the only team in the SEC to return to three starters from last season as Mark Mitchell, Trent Pierce and Anthony Robinson II are all back in the Black & Gold in 2025-26.
• Overall, MU returns seven from last year's roster to go with five transfers and two freshmen.
EXHIBITION RECAP
• MU unofficially opened the season on Oct. 24, defeating Kansas State in an exhibition contest at Mizzou Arena, 100-91.
• A 14-0 run midway through the first half gave the Tigers the lead for good, leading by as many as 19 points before the 100-91 final tally.
• Four Tigers scored in double figures – Anthony Robinson II (16), Jayden Stone (16), Annor Boateng (15) and Shawn Phillips Jr. (14).
• Phillips also added 10 boards for a double-double in his Black & Gold debut, while Robinson led the Tigers with four assists.
ABOUT THE BISON
• Howard finished the 2024-25 campaign with a 12-20 record, including a 7-7 mark in MEAC play.
• The Bison have to replace their top seven scorers from last season as MEAC Preseason Player of the Year in 2024 Bryce Harris is the team's top returning scorer – tallying 67 points in just seven games due to injury.
• Overall, Howard has won the MEAC title in two of the past three seasons under head coach Kenny Blakeney.
SERIES HISTORY
• The schools are meeting for just the second time, following last year's game at Mizzou Arena.
• MU never trailed in its home opener, leading by as much as 17 en route to a 77-62 win.
• Three Tigers scored in double figures in the win, led by 17 from Tamar Bates, 16 points and eight rebounds from Mark Mitchell and 13 points from Anthony Robinson II.
MIZZOU VERSUS MEAC
• Missouri owns an 18-3 all-time record versus MEAC schools.
• Monday's contest marks the first time the Tigers will play a true road game against a MEAC school with 20 of the previous 21 meetings at home and one neutral contest at an NCAA Tournament.
MIZZOU IN SEASON OPENERS
• The Tigers are set to open their 120th season of play on Monday night at Howard.
• Mizzou owns a 96-23 all-time record in season openers (80.7 winning percentage).
• It marks the second-straight year MU is starting on the road as it fell at Memphis in 2024, 83-75.
• Overall, MU is 12-9 in road season openers and 16-13 away from Columbia with its last victory coming in 2003 with a 90-85 win at Oakland.
• November 3 is the earliest opener in MU history.
RETURNING EXPERIENCE
• The Tigers are ready to take on the 2025-26 campaign with a number of familiar faces.
• Mizzou is the only team in the SEC with three returning starters from last season with Mark Mitchell, Trent Pierce and Anthony Robinson II all back for MU.
• Overall, it marks the first time that MU returns three starters since the 2020-21 campaign.
FLYING HIGH
• There is one thing you can't teach on the court and that is height, which Mizzou owns a lot of.
• The Tigers average height in 2025-26 is 79.79 inches (nearly 6-foot-8).
• Mizzou's height is nearly an inch taller than the second-previous tallest team in school history (79.00 in 2017-18) and more than a half inch taller than any other team in the SEC.
• Trent Burns (7-5) is also tied for the tallest player in MU history and second tallest player nationally.
MITCHELL EARNS PRESEASON NOD
• Senior Mark Mitchell is one of the top returners in the SEC this season.
• An all-conference honoree last year as a junior – second-team by the media and third-team by the coaches – Mitchell was named to the All-SEC Preseason Second Team this season.
• Mitchell led the Tigers with 13.9 points, while ranking second with 4.7 rebounds in 2024-25.
TOP RETURNING SCORER
• Senior Mark Mitchell led the Tigers in scoring as a junior and is back for more in 2025-26.
• Mitchell tallied 13.9 points per game – shooting 50.5 percent from the field and leading the team in free-throws made (142) and attempts (212).
• In fact, Mitchell's 13.9 points are the most by a returning Tiger since Marcus Denmon in 2011-12 (he averaged 16.9 in 2010-11).
