COLUMBIA, Mo. — There are basketball games that take place in nightmares and dreams. There are games set in the fury of rivalries, the fog of forgettable blowouts, the flaming heat of an individual player’s greatness.
Missouri men’s basketball coach Dennis Gates speaks with the media on Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025, at the SEC Basketball Tipoff in Birmingham, Alabama. (Video courtesy Southeastern Conference)
Vanderbilt’s Devin McGlockton, bottom, and Missouri’s Jayden Stone, top, battle for a loose ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Missouri’s Trent Pierce (11) knocks the ball away from Vanderbilt’s Tyler Nickel (5) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Vanderbilt’s Ak Okereke, left, drives past Missouri’s Trent Pierce, right, during the first half of an NCAA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Vanderbilt’s Mike James (0) passes around Missouri’s Shawn Phillips Jr. (15) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Missouri’s Jayden Stone (17) saves the ball in front of Vanderbilt head coach Mark Byington, right, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Missouri’s Shawn Phillips Jr. (15) dunks over Vanderbilt’s Mike James, left, and Devin McGlockton (99) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Vanderbilt’s Ak Okereke (10) drives between Missouri’s Jayden Stone (17) and T.O. Barrett, left, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Vanderbilt’s Tyler Tanner (3) drives past Missouri’s Jayden Stone (17) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Vanderbilt head coach Mark Byington calls a play during the first half of an NCAA basketball game against Missouri Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Missouri’s Trent Pierce (11) dunks past Vanderbilt’s Ak Okereke, left, during the second half of an NCAA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Missouri’s Jayden Stone (17) watches his three-point shot fly with teammates Jacob Crews (35), Anthony Robinson II (0), Shawn Phillips Jr. (15) and Nicholas Randall during the second half of an NCAA basketball game against Vanderbilt Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Vanderbilt’s Devin McGlockton, Missouri’s Jayden Stone, center, and Mark Mitchell, right, react to a call during the second half of an NCAA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Missouri head coach Dennis Gates reacts after a call during the second half of an NCAA basketball game against Vanderbilt Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Vanderbilt’s Devin McGlockton, bottom, collides with Missouri’s Trent Burns, top, during the first half of an NCAA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Missouri’s Mark Mitchell (25) collides with Vanderbilt’s Devin McGlockton during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Vanderbilt’s Jalen Washington (13) and Missouri’s Trent Pierce (11) collide during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Missouri’s Anthony Robinson II celebrates a basket during the second half of an NCAA basketball game against Vanderbilt Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Missouri’s Jayden Stone (17) celebrates a basket with teammate Trent Burns (7) during the second half of an NCAA basketball game against Vanderbilt Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Missouri’s Jayden Stone, right, is consoled by head coach Dennis Gates after a foul during the second half of an NCAA basketball game against Vanderbilt Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Vanderbilt’s Mark Byington argues a call during the second half of an NCAA basketball game against Missouri Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Missouri head coach Dennis Gates greets fans before an NCAA basketball game against Vanderbilt Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Missouri’s Jayden Stone, center, laughs last a call during the second half of an NCAA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Missouri’s Trent Pierce (11) dunks the ball during the second half of an NCAA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Missouri’s Trent Pierce (11) dunks the ball during the second half of an NCAA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Missouri head coach Dennis Gates, left, consoles Missouri’s Jayden Stone during the second half of an NCAA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Missouri’s Jayden Stone, left, is fouled by Vanderbilt’s Chandler Bing during the second half of an NCAA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Vanderbilt’s Ak Okereke (10) fumbles the ball as he is defended by Missouri’s Mark Mitchell during the second half of an NCAA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Missouri head coach Dennis Gates argues a call during the second half of an NCAA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Missouri’s T.O. Barrett, center, drives past Vanderbilt’s Tyler Nickel, right, and Chandler Bing during the second half of an NCAA basketball game Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Missouri head coach Dennis Gates watches player introductions before an NCAA basketball game against Vanderbilt Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Mizzou athletics beat writer
{{description}}
Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
“We probably could have done a better job having some better patience around the rim,” forward Mark Mitchell said.
Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device.
Sorry, an error occurred.
Already Subscribed!
Cancel anytime
Account processing issue – the email address may already exist
Sign up with
Thank you .
Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in.
Check your email for details.
Invalid password or account does not exist
Sign in with
Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password.
An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account.
No promotional rates found.
Secure & Encrypted
Secure transaction. Secure transaction. Cancel anytime.
Thank you.
Your gift purchase was successful! Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in.
A receipt was sent to your email.
