Photos: Mizzou loses in first round of NCAA Tournament for 2nd year in row
By Dominick Williams
The Missouri Tigers’ March Madness run ended mere hours after it began.
Despite playing in front of a largely partisan crowd at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, No. 10-seeded Mizzou fell 80-66 to the No. 7-seeded Miami Hurricanes in the first round of the NCAA Tournament’s West Regional.
The Tigers had their moments, holding leads both early and late — and fans were certainly excited throughout.
See it all in these moments captured before, during and after the game by The Star’s Dominick Williams.
Mizzou fans get hype before the game
Henry Hohman, 11, dances with Truman the Tiger at the Mizzou Spirit Rally at Ballpark Village on Friday, March 20, 2026, in St. Louis. The Missouri Tigers faced off against the Miami Hurricanes in the first round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament in St. Louis. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Missouri Tigers fans expressed their fandom at the Mizzou Spirit Rally at Ballpark Village on Friday, March 20, 2026, in St. Louis. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
The Mizzou Spirit Squad dances on stage at the Mizzou Spirit Rally at Ballpark Village on Friday, March 20, 2026, in St. Louis. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Justa Dahl gives a playful thumbs down to Kansas fans at the Mizzou Spirit Rally at Ballpark Village on Friday, March 20, 2026, in St. Louis. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Missouri fans play a loose game of pickup basketball at the Mizzou Spirit Rally at Ballpark Village on Friday, March 20, 2026, in St. Louis. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Missouri Tigers fans perform their school chant at the Mizzou Spirit Rally at Ballpark Village on Friday, March 20, 2026, in St. Louis. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Tigers make first-half comeback
Missouri Tigers head coach Dennis Gates stands on the opposite end of the court prior to the Tigers first-round NCAA Tournament matchup vs. the Miami Hurricanes at Enterprise Center in St. Louis on Friday, March 20, 2026. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Missouri Tigers forward Mark Mitchell (25) blocks a layup by Miami Hurricanes guard Tre Donaldson (3) in the Tigers’ first-round NCAA Tournament matchup vs. the Miami Hurricanes at Enterprise Center in St. Louis on Friday, March 20, 2026. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Miami Hurricanes guard Tre Donaldson (3) dives for the ball between two Missouri Tigers players in the Tigers’ first-round NCAA Tournament matchup vs. the Miami Hurricanes at Enterprise Center in St. Louis on Friday, March 20, 2026. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Missouri Tigers head coach Dennis Gates claps in encouragement of his team in the Tigers’ first-round NCAA Tournament matchup vs. the Miami Hurricanes at Enterprise Center in St. Louis on Friday, March 20, 2026. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Miami Hurricanes forward Shelton Henderson (7) dunks the ball in the first-round NCAA Tournament matchup at Enterprise Center in St. Louis on Friday, March 20, 2026. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Missouri Tigers guard Anthony Robinson II (0) makes a three-pointer over Miami Hurricanes guard Tru Washington (10) in the first half of the Tigers’ first-round NCAA Tournament matchup vs. the Miami Hurricanes at Enterprise Center in St. Louis on Friday, March 20, 2026. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Missouri Tigers forward Mark Mitchell (25) and guard Anthony Robinson II (0) fight for a loose ball against Miami Hurricanes center Ernest Udeh Jr. (8) in the first half of the Tigers’ first-round NCAA Tournament matchup vs. the Miami Hurricanes at Enterprise Center in St. Louis on Friday, March 20, 2026. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Missouri Tigers guard Jayden Stone (17) passes the ball from the ground in the first half of the Tigers’ first-round NCAA Tournament matchup vs. the Miami Hurricanes at Enterprise Center in St. Louis on Friday, March 20, 2026. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Missouri Tigers guard T.O. Barrett (5) jumps over the scorers table in the first half of the Tigers first-round NCAA Tournament matchup vs. the Miami Hurricanes at Enterprise Center in St. Louis on Friday, March 20, 2026. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
But Mizzou can’t overcome Miami in second half
Miami Hurricanes guard Tre Donaldson (3) dives for a loose ball in the second half of the first-round NCAA Tournament matchup at Enterprise Center in St. Louis on Friday, March 20, 2026. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Missouri Tigers forward Mark Mitchell (25) is well defended by Miami Hurricanes defenders in the second half of the Tigers’ first-round NCAA Tournament matchup vs. the Miami Hurricanes at Enterprise Center in St. Louis on Friday, March 20, 2026. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Missouri Tigers guard Jayden Stone (17) drives to the basket for a layup and a foul in the second half of the Tigers’ first-round NCAA Tournament matchup vs. the Miami Hurricanes at Enterprise Center in St. Louis on Friday, March 20, 2026. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Missouri Tigers guard Jayden Stone (17) flexes after a layup and a foul in the second half of the Tigers first-round NCAA Tournament matchup vs. the Miami Hurricanes at Enterprise Center in St. Louis on Friday, March 20, 2026. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Missouri Tigers forward Mark Mitchell (25) screams towards the ref after a no-call in the second half of the Tigers’ first-round NCAA Tournament matchup vs. the Miami Hurricanes at Enterprise Center in St. Louis on Friday, March 20, 2026. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Missouri Tigers center Shawn Phillips Jr. (15) crouches and watches his teammates on defense in the second half of the Tigers’ first-round NCAA Tournament matchup vs. the Miami Hurricanes at Enterprise Center in St. Louis on Friday, March 20, 2026. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Miami Hurricanes guard Tre Donaldson (3) celebrates after a big three-pointer later in the second half of the Tigers’ first-round NCAA Tournament matchup vs. the Miami Hurricanes at Enterprise Center in St. Louis on Friday, March 20, 2026. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Missouri Tigers fans looks on in worry as the team falls behind the Miami Hurricanes in the second half of the Tigers’ first-round NCAA Tournament matchup vs. the Miami Hurricanes at Enterprise Center in St. Louis on Friday, March 20, 2026. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
The Missouri Tigers walks towards the bench in the second half of the Tigers’ first-round NCAA Tournament matchup vs. the Miami Hurricanes at Enterprise Center in St. Louis on Friday, March 20, 2026. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
Missouri Tigers head coach Dennis Gates consoles Missouri Tigers guard Anthony Robinson II (0) in the final seconds of the Tigers’ first-round NCAA Tournament matchup vs. the Miami Hurricanes at Enterprise Center in St. Louis on Friday, March 20, 2026. Dominick Williams dowilliams@kcstar.com
This story was originally published March 21, 2026 at 12:40 AM.
