2025 has been kind to head coach Dennis Gates and the Missouri Tigers basketball team he has worked to build since arriving from Cleveland State in mid-2022. Tonight, the Tigers improved to 4-1 on the year, including four straight wins—all within the highly competitive SEC.
On the verge of their fourth straight conference win and fresh off what might be their best victory of the year—a road win against No. 5 Florida—the Tigers came out hot, looking to set the tone early for how they hoped the game would unfold.
After falling behind 2-0 on the opening possession, Mizzou quickly found their rhythm offensively. Tamar Bates hit two three-pointers, and Trent Pierce added another, while the defense forced multiple turnovers. This complementary basketball sparked an 18-0 run to open the game, forcing a timeout by Arkansas’ highly touted head coach John Calipari.
The defense was outstanding to start the first half. Sharpshooter Caleb Grill checked in early and immediately forced a steal, which led to a pair of free throws by senior Tony Perkins. On the very next possession, Grill dished a perfect pass to Mark Mitchell, who delivered an emphatic and-one dunk.
Once Tamar Bates found his rhythm, he was nearly unstoppable. He nailed a fading three-pointer to extend Mizzou's run to 18-0 over just five minutes of play. Bates scored 13 points in the first six minutes.
The aggressive defensive trend continued throughout the half, with Arkansas committing three early turnovers, including one forced by Caleb Grill, who stripped Zvonimir Ivisic and finished with an emphatic dunk. Despite their aggressive play, the Tigers were disciplined on defense, limiting fouls and keeping Arkansas off the free-throw line entirely in the first half.
The Razorbacks’ stars were largely kept in check during the first half. Adou Thiero managed just 6 points and 3 rebounds on 3-of-7 shooting, while Boogie Fland struggled even more, going 1-of-7 from the field for 2 points and 3 assists.
Offensively, Mizzou's shooting was on point in the first half, particularly from long range—an area where the Tigers have lacked consistency this season. Four players connected on three-pointers, with three of them hitting multiple shots from beyond the arc.
Both sides of the ball excelled for Mizzou in the first half, as the Tigers headed into the locker room with a commanding 52-35 lead over Arkansas. The biggest difference in the game was three-point shooting—Mizzou shot an impressive 53% from beyond the arc, while the Razorbacks struggled at just 21%.
Overall, Mizzou's shooting was impressive, especially given the tough defense they faced. The Tigers shot 56% from the field, while Arkansas managed just 42%. Mitchell, Bates, and Grill all contributed double-digit points in the first half, showcasing a balanced offensive effort.
Meanwhile, Mizzou starting guard Anthony Robinson II had a quiet first half offensively. Despite playing all but five minutes, he didn’t score, going 0-for-2 from the field. However, he contributed in other areas, recording four rebounds and four assists.
The second half started just as strongly as the first ended, sparked by a steal from Mitchell followed by another from Perkins. The Tigers quickly extended their lead to 20 points less than a minute into the half, maintaining that cushion for much of the early stages of the second half.
After a brief run by the Razorbacks cut the lead to 12, the Tigers responded with a strong 6-0 run, fueled by two layups from Caleb Grill. This stretch gave Mizzou a commanding 18-point lead, 63-45, with 12 minutes remaining.
Arkansas tightened up defensively in the second half, denying the Tigers easy looks and forcing them to operate primarily inside the paint. Despite the increased pressure, Mizzou stayed composed and continued to find ways to score from all over the court.
Mizzou hit a cold stretch in the second half, shooting just 1-of-7 from the field over nearly five minutes, allowing Arkansas to cut the lead to just 10 points. However, the Tigers quickly responded with back-to-back steals that led to four points, regaining momentum with under five minutes remaining.
The team’s ability to respond in critical moments is truly impressive and undoubtedly encouraging for the coaching staff as they continue to build confidence and resilience.
Though the Razorbacks worked tirelessly to claw their way back into the game, the deficit they faced from the first half proved too large to overcome. Meanwhile, everything seemed to click for Coach Gates and the Tigers, with both sides of the ball contributing to the well-rounded performance.
Just as Arkansas seemed poised to steal the momentum, the Tigers methodically ran down the entire shot clock before missing a shot. Anthony Robinson came up big with an athletic rebound over a much taller defender, giving Mizzou a second chance. They used the opportunity to melt more time off the game clock before Robinson capped the possession with a deep three—his first of the contest.
A total of 13 players saw action in the game, with eight of them contributing at least one basket. This speaks volumes about the team’s depth, the confidence Coach Gates has in his roster, and his ability to rely on multiple players to step up in any situation.
In the end, Mizzou pulled away for their 15th win of the season, defeating Arkansas 83-65. Scoring came easily for the Tigers, with several players having standout offensive performances. Mitchell and Grill each finished with 17 points, while Bates contributed 15. Trent Pierce added a strong showing as well, scoring 10 points on a perfect 4-for-4 shooting from the field.
This game serves as another example of a hard-fought conference win, highlighted by strong performances on both sides of the ball. It’s encouraging to see the Tigers put together a complete 40-minute effort, especially after nearly squandering their big second-half lead against Florida last week.
The journey continues for Mitchell and Mizzou with another big test on Tuesday night as they face the Texas Longhorns in Austin.