University of Missouri
12-3,2-0SEC
Kentucky
9-6,0-2SEC
Men’s Basketball Wins at Kentucky for First Time in School History
1/7/2026 9:15:00 PM | Men's Basketball
The Mizzou men's basketball team finished the game on a 15-2 run to earn a historic win over Kentucky at Rupp Arena, 73-68. The win marks the first in 10 tries in Lexington, while the Tigers also improve to 2-0 in SEC play for the first time in school history. Mizzou is now 12-3 overall.
MIZZOU LEADERS
Senior Mark Mitchell and graduate student Jayden Stone both eclipsed 20 points in the victory. Mitchell tallied 21, including the go-ahead basket with 36.2 seconds remaining, while Stone added 20 – his most in a Mizzou uniform. Stone also added a team-best seven boards on the night.
Junior Anthony Robinson II recorded nine points and added a career-best 10 assists. Junior Trent Pierce also chipped in five points, five rebounds, a personal-best four steals and three assists.
GAME RECAP
A tight contest throughout, the Tigers finally grabbed a little cushion halfway through the first stanza. A 10-2 run turned a 10-9 deficit into a 19-12 lead with the first five coming from T.O. Barrett before Pierce capped the stretch with a triple.
Kentucky (9-6, 0-2 SEC) responded but every time, the Tigers were there to answer back. The Wildcats knotted the game at 19 before Mizzou added the next four. UK then pulled back at even at 23 only for a 10-4 run to put the visitors back up by six, 33-27. Kentucky would then add five points in the final 20 seconds to head into the locker room with Mizzou ahead by one, 33-32.
The momentum carried for Kentucky early in the second as it scored the first six of the second period. The overall 11-0 run gave the Wildcats a 38-33 lead. From there, the teams would trade runs – Mizzou took a 42-41 lead before Kentucky scored the next six. The Tigers then went ahead, 51-49, only for Kentucky to grab its largest lead of the game, 66-58, with 4:37 remaining.
It was then Mizzou turn to make one last run and secure the win at Kentucky. A bucket by Pierce followed by a block and fastbreak layup from Stone pulled Mizzou within four, 66-62. Stone then added a triple on the next possession for a one-point game with 3:26 remaining.
Kentucky went back up by three, 68-65, but the Tigers responded with an alley-oop slam from Shawn Phillips with 1:14 remaining and Mitchell's go-ahead turnaround with 36.2 ticks remaining. The defense would take it from there, forcing Kentucky to miss its final two shots to go with one turnover, while adding four free throws for the 73-68 final tally.
TEAM STATS
The Tigers shot 51.9 percent in the winning effort with a 6-of-17 clip from 3-point range. Mizzou was especially strong inside, outscoring the Wildcats, 40-28, in the paint.
The Wildcats made 43.1 percent of their field goals with a 7-of-18 clip from 3-point range.
UP NEXT
The Tigers continue play on the road as they look to improve to 3-0 for the first time with a contest at Ole Miss on Saturday. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m. on SEC Network.
