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See our coverage from KU basketball's Border War win over the Missouri Tigers

Stories by Kansas City Star journalists, with AI summarization

The Kansas Jayhawks earned a decisive win over the Missouri Tigers in a Border War basketball game. The Jayhawks improved to 4-1 in the ongoing six-game series, which will conclude next year back at T-Mobile Center.

After the game, Missouri coach Dennis Gates emphasized the necessity of continuing the rivalry despite Kansas' dominating performance. He praised the game's atmosphere as "college basketball at its best."

Bill Self, on the Kansas side, was less certain about continuing the rivalry series, but this game was plenty decisive. The Jayhawks were led by Tre White and star freshman Darryn Peterson, who scored 17 points in his return from injury despite playing through illness.

Kansas’ Flory Bidunga dunks over Missouri’s Mark Mitchell during the first half of their game at T-Mobile Center on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. By Travis Heying

NO. 1: KU BASKETBALL CRUSHES MIZZOU IN KC. THREE TAKEAWAYS FROM DARRYN PETERSON’S RETURN

For the first 20 minutes of game time, fans seated in the northeast corner of T-Mobile Center heckled Kansas players, cheered each Missouri basket and made their presence felt from tipoff. | Published December 7, 2025 | Read Full Story by Shreyas Laddha

Kansas’ Darryn Peterson fights for the ball against Missouri’s Anthony Robinson II during the first half of their game at T-Mobile Center on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. By Travis Heying

NO. 2: AFTER DARRYN PETERSON’S RETURN, BILL SELF SAYS FANS HAVE WRONG IDEA ABOUT KU STAR

Kansas freshman guard Darryn Peterson’s status for Sunday’s Border War battle against Missouri was in question as late as Saturday afternoon. | Published December 7, 2025 | Read Full Story by Gary Bedore

Kansas’ Elmarko Jackson goes up for a shot against Missouri’s Shawn Phillips Jr. during the second half of their game at T-Mobile Center on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. By Travis Heying

NO. 3: DESPITE KU BLOWOUT, MIZZOU COACH DENNIS GATES SAYS RIVALRY ‘SHOULD NEVER STOP’

The 23rd and last time the Kansas and Missouri men’s basketball teams had played a game in Kansas City that counted was at the inaugural Big 12 Tournament in 1997. | Published December 8, 2025 | Read Full Story by Vahe Gregorian

Kansas’ Jamari McDowell celebrates a 3-pointer in front of Missouri’s Mark Mitchell during the second half of their game at T-Mobile Center on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. By Travis Heying

NO. 4: ‘NO FRIENDS’ TO BE HAD AT ELECTRIC KU-MIZZOU GAME: ‘A WAR WITHIN HOMES’

We asked KU and Mizzou fans to describe each other. You won't be shocked by the results. | Published December 7, 2025 | Read Full Story by Rashad Alexander

Kansas Jayhawks guard Melvin Council Jr. high-fives fans after the Jayhawks defeated rival Missouri at T-Mobile Center on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. By Travis Heying

NO. 5: MELVIN COUNCIL DUNKED LATE IN KU-MIZZOU. HERE’S WHY BILL SELF WAS OK WITH IT

Kansas senior guard Melvin Council Jr. secured a defensive rebound with nine seconds to play, then raced down the court and flushed a vicious slam dunk. | Published December 7, 2025 | Read Full Story by Gary Bedore

Kansas’ Tre White blocks the shot of Missouri’s Mark Mitchell during the second half of their game at T-Mobile Center on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. By Travis Heying

NO. 6: THE RETURN OF DARRYN PETERSON PROVIDES KANSAS A LESSON IN ITS WIN OVER MIZZOU

The game had opened up after halftime, never tight enough for even a nervy possession or two, with the lone Mizzou run countered by a Jamari McDowell 3-pointer. | Published December 8, 2025 | Read Full Story by Sam McDowell

Darryn Peterson #22 of the Kansas Jayhawks is fouled by Shawn Phillips Jr. #15 of the Missouri Tigers during the game at T-Mobile Center on December 7, 2025 in Kansas City. By Jamie Squire

NO. 7: KU JAYHAWKS’ DARRYN PETERSON RETURNS VS. MIZZOU, AS NEW ISSUE LIMITS HIS MINUTES

He’s back. | Published December 7, 2025 | Read Full Story by Shreyas Laddha

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.