Mizzou comeback effort falls short in Braggin’ Rights loss to Illinois. What went wrong?

There were no Braggin’ Rights to be had for Missouri basketball on Sunday, as the Tigers’ 10-game win streak came to an end at the hands of Illinois 80-77 at Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri.

Three Missouri Tigers carried nearly all of the scoring load, as Kansas City natives Mark Mitchell (18 points) and Tamar Bates (17 points) combined for 35 points. Tony Perkins added 18 points along with six rebounds, three assists and three steals.

The trio’s Missouri teammates combined for just 24 points total, though that included Jacob Crews’ game-tying free throws with 46.5 seconds to play. Crews scored seven points on 1-for-5 shooting, making 4 of 4 foul shots. No other Missouri player (beyond Mitchell, Bates, Perkins and Crews) had more than four points.

The Tigers, who trailed for 29:55 of game time and by as many as 10 points, battled to tie the score in the final minute. Trent Pierce missed a potential go-ahead 3-pointer with just under 50 seconds left before a foul on the ensuing scramble allowed MU to knot things up at the line.

After Illinois regained a two-point advantage, Mitchell attempted and missed a jump shot with right around 10 seconds left; he appeared to have his foot on the line, making it a tying 2-point attempt, though the official game stats list it as a missed 3.

Illinois split a pair of free throws with 8.1 seconds left to take a 3-point lead. Crews had a last-gasp tying 3-point attempt from the right wing — after splitting a pair of Illinois defenders — but his shot, like several before it, clanked off the rim.

The Tigers have lost this game two years in a row. Illinois players celebrated with the Braggin’ Rights trophy on the court after improving to 8-3 on the season. Missouri is now 10-2.

For the game, the Tigers shot just 39.7% from the field and 3-for-13 (23.1%) from 3. The Tigers lost the rebounding battle 42-30. They stayed in the game in part because they got to the free-throw line for 37 foul shots, compared to 23 for Illinois.

The Tigers also forced 17 Illinois turnovers while only committing nine. But the bench combined to shoot just 35% from the field (7-for-20), while two starters in Anthony Robinson and Josh Gray did not record a made field goal.

Dennis Gates was also tagged with a technical in the second half.

Missouri returns to action on Monday, Dec. 30, against Alabama State. Tipoff on ESPN+ will be at 6:30 p.m. at Mizzou Arena.

This story will be updated.