Missouri Tigers basketball: Top highlights and rising stars

This season, Missouri Tigers basketball has been energized by standout performances and key wins. Caleb Grill’s return from injury brought back his defensive grit and outside shooting, while Mark Mitchell impressed as a new addition, scoring effectively and drawing praise for his all-around play. The team broke a long SEC losing streak with an explosive victory against LSU and showcased its depth, with several players notching double figures and highlight moments like Trent Pierce’s dunk and Anthony Robinson II’s quick defense. Missouri also boosted its roster through transfers like UCLA’s Sebastian Mack.

Off the court, new investments and leadership in the women’s program, with Kellie Harper as coach, hint at even brighter days for Mizzou basketball.

Missouri Tigers guard Mark Mitchell talks with media members during SEC Media Days at Grand Bohemian Hotel in Birmingham, Alabama, on Oct. 15, 2024.

NO. 1: MISSOURI TIGERS BASKETBALL BLOWS OUT LINCOLN IN EXHIBITION GAME. HERE’S THE RECAP

In his Mizzou basketball debut, Mark Mitchell scored 22 points, leading a blowout exhibition win over Lincoln. | Published October 26, 2024 | Read Full Story

Missouri Tigers guard Tamar Bates, right, shoots a layup past Howard Bison guard Marcus Dockery during the first half of MU’s home opener at Mizzou Arena on Friday, Nov. 8, 2024.

NO. 2: MISSOURI TIGERS SNAP 20-GAME BASKETBALL SLIDE WITH HOME-OPENING WIN VS. HOWARD

The Missouri Tigers took care of business in Friday’s home opener against Howard University. | Published November 9, 2024 | Read Full Story by The Kansas City Star

Mizzou’s Trent Pierce and Aidan Shaw battle an Alabama State player for the ball on Monday, Dec. 30, 2024, at Mizzou Arena.

NO. 3: HOW THREE LETTERS — EGB — SPARKED MIZZOU BASKETBALL BLOWOUT WIN VS. ALABAMA STATE

Breaking down the Missouri Tigers men’s basketball game vs. Alabama State — with postgame reaction. | Published December 31, 2024 | Read Full Story by Andy Theobald

Caleb Grill (right) made his return for the Missouri Tigers on Monday, Dec. 30, 2024.

NO. 4: CALEB GRILL RETURNS FROM NECK INJURY AS MIZZOU BASKETBALL DEFEATS ALABAMA STATE

The Missouri Tigers got a much needed win in their non-conference finale on Monday. | Published December 31, 2024 | Read Full Story by Maddie Hartley

NO. 5: MISSOURI TIGERS BASKETBALL TEAM SHIFTS FOCUS TO VANDY, PROSPECT OF BACK-TO-BACK SEC WINS

Coach Dennis Gates’ Tigers will look for their second straight SEC hoops win Saturday at Mizzou Arena. | Published January 10, 2025 | Read Full Story by Grant Salsman

Missouri Tigers guard Anthony Robinson II (No. 0, with ball) rises for a shot against the Oklahoma Sooners during an SEC men’s basketball game Mizzou Arena in Columbia on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. By Jay Biggerstaff

NO. 6: NO. 21 MIZZOU MEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM LOOKS TO KEEP MOMENTUM GOING IN ROAD GAME AT GEORGIA

Mizzou takes on the Georgia Bulldogs Saturday on the road. | Published February 14, 2025 | Read Full Story by Grant Salsman

Missouri Tigers head coach Dennis Gates talks with guard Marques Warrick (1) against the South Carolina Gamecocks during the second half at Mizzou Arena on Feb. 25, 2025. By Denny Medley

NO. 7: HOW DENNIS GATES, MISSOURI TIGERS REACTED TO BLOWOUT WIN OVER SOUTH CAROLINA

Caleb Grill, Anthony Robinson and several other Tigers had standout performances Tuesday. Here’s the postgame reaction. | Published February 26, 2025 | Read Full Story by Andy Theobald

Vanderbilt Commodores guard Jason Edwards (1) passes the ball as Missouri Tigers guard Jacob Crews (35) defends during the first half at Memorial Gymnasium on March 1, 2025. By Steve Roberts

NO. 8: MISSOURI TIGERS GIVE UP LATE 3, FALL IN OVERTIME TO VANDERBILT. HERE’S THE RECAP

Caleb Grill put Missouri up 3 with nine seconds to play. But the Tigers couldn’t close it out. | Published March 2, 2025 | Read Full Story by Maddie Hartley

Missouri Tigers men’s basketball players Caleb Grill (from left), Anthony Robinson II and Mark Mitchell garnered SEC postseason recognition for the 2024-25 season on Monday, March 10, 2025. By File photos

NO. 9: MISSOURI TIGERS BASKETBALL STANDOUTS CALEB GRILL, MITCHELL, ROBINSON EARN SEC HONORS

Mizzou’s Caleb Grill is Sixth Man of the Year for the SEC. | Published March 10, 2025 | Read Full Story by The Kansas City Star

Oklahoma Sooners forward Glenn Taylor Jr. (35) knocks the ball away from Missouri Tigers guard Aidan Shaw (23) during the first half at Mizzou Arena on Feb. 12, 2025. By Jay Biggerstaff

NO. 10: MIZZOU BASKETBALL HAS ITS FIRST TRANSFER PORTAL LOSS. HE SPENT 3 YEARS WITH THE TIGERS

The Missouri Tigers have lost their first player to the transfer portal this offseason. | Published March 25, 2025 | Read Full Story by Kansas City Star

Peering through the crowd of Mizzou Athletics staff, fans and supporters, new women’s basketball coach Kellie Harper answers questions during her introductory news conference on Monday, March 31, 2025, inside the Mizzou Arena practice gym. Harper is the fifth coach in program history. By Abram Barker

NO. 11: ‘PERFECT FIT FOR ME’: NEW MIZZOU TIGERS WOMEN’S HOOPS COACH OUTLINES HER VISION

The new women’s hoops head coach outlined her vision for the Tigers during a get-to-know-you session. | Published April 1, 2025 | Read Full Story by Kevin Utz

UCLA transfer guard Sebastian Mack has committed to coach Dennis Gates Missouri Tigers for the 2025-26 men’s college basketball season, as reported first by On3’s Joe Tipton. By Jordan Prather/file photo

NO. 12: COACH DENNIS GATES’ MISSOURI TIGERS BASKETBALL PROGRAM ADDS UCLA TRANSFER GUARD

Dennis Gates’ Mizzou hoops team picked up a portal commitment at guard, per a report this week. | Published April 8, 2025 | Read Full Story by Grant Salsman

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.