The Mizzou men's basketball team opened the 2026-27 season with a record-breaking 111-50 victory over Cleveland State on Tuesday night at Mizzou Arena - its largest season-opening win in program history. 

The 61-point margin is the largest margin of victory overall since a 72-point win over Mississippi Valley State on Nov., 14 2024 and the largest in a season opener in program history.

MIZZOU LEADERS
Freshman Jason Crowe Jr. led the Tigers in his first game in the Black & Gold – compiling a team-high 23 points - making 9-of-16 from the field with four triples in the evening. His 23 points are tied for the most by a Mizzou freshman in his collegiate debut.

St. Louis native, Kennard Davis Jr. added 19 points from the bench - going 7-of-9 from the field with four threes of his own - Crowe’s freshman counterpart Toni Bryant added 15 points – making 3-of-5 from 3-point range and adding five blocks – while sophomore Jamier Jones (13 points), fifth-year Mark Mitchell (11 points), senior Trent Pierce (11 points) and sophomore Bryson Tiller (10 points) all contributed double-digits for the squad.

Mitchell added career-high 10 assists to notch a double-double and Tiller led the team with nine rebounds. 

GAME RECAP
Mizzou opened the 2026-27 campaign on a scorching 18-2 run, led by two blocks and three triples from Bryant in the first five minutes of the contest. As a team, the Tigers made six of their first eight shots to establish the early lead. 

An and-one layup by Jones within the final minute of the frame extended the Missouri advantage to 38 as they cruised into the break with a 56-18 lead. The Tigers had a 59.5% shooting percentage in the first half including 41.7% from the three point line. 

Missouri continued its offensive prowess in the second half as the team began with a perfect seven-for-seven mark from the field, including a pair of triples Davis, extending the lead to 77-27. 

A Trent Burns putback-dunk put MU above the 100-point threshold as the team cruised to a 111-50 victory. 

GAME STATS
The Tigers made 60.9 percent of their field-goal attempts, including a 14-of-31 clip (45.2 percent) from 3-point range. Mizzou, meanwhile, held the Vikings to just 32.8 percent shooting. Missouri also held a 43-29 advantage in rebounds and a 41-14 edge in bench points.

UP NEXT
The Tigers travel to St. Louis for the Regions Bank Show Me Showdown against Saint Louis. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. on Friday night at the Enterprise Center.