Nothing’s come easy for Missouri in SEC play - and that might be exactly what this team needs right now.
Seven conference games in, and outside of an 84-74 win over Auburn, every single matchup has been a grind. We're talking tight finishes, late-game possessions, and the kind of intensity that makes every dribble feel like it could swing the outcome. For head coach Dennis Gates, there’s a silver lining in all that tension: it’s teaching his players how to live - and thrive - in the margins.
“I don’t know when it’s been this close, night in and night out, for us,” Gates said. “It just says we are one play away.”
That’s not just coach-speak. In a league as deep and competitive as the SEC, being one play away is often the difference between climbing the standings or sliding down them. Gates is drilling into his team the importance of details - the little moments that don’t make the highlight reel but win basketball games.
On offense, that means protecting the ball, hitting open shots, converting at the free-throw line, and finishing strong around the rim. On defense, it’s about taking away clean looks, contesting shots without fouling, and disrupting passing lanes. These are the plays that separate wins from losses in a conference where the margin is razor-thin.
And when the game gets tight - which, for Mizzou, has basically been every night - having a steady hand like Jayden Stone makes all the difference.
Stone, a graduate senior guard from Perth, Australia, has been a rock for the Tigers this season. He’s averaging 15.4 points per game on an efficient 54.8% from the field, 40.3% from three, and 75.5% from the stripe.
Add in 5.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.1 steals per game, and you’ve got one of the most well-rounded contributors in the SEC. He’s scored at least 12 points in all but one game this season and has gone for 20 or more in four SEC contests, including a clutch performance in Missouri’s 88-87 overtime win over Oklahoma.
His offensive rating of 141.5? That’s not just good - it ranks 10th in the entire country among Division I players.
“You guys see the difference,” Gates said. “Once he got back healthy, I knew he’d be ready to be in the starting lineup, and that’s why I made the change. He’s a high-level basketball player.”
Stone’s impact goes beyond the box score. Gates praised his rebounding instincts, his intensity, and his refusal to settle. Even after a solid night, Stone pushes for more - not for the stat line, but for the win.
“He’s hard on himself,” Gates said. “He does not settle for complacency.
He wants to have a great game and, on the other side of great games, he wants to be in the win column. So he’s an unselfish player.”
Missouri’s connection to Stone dates back to Gates’ days in the Horizon League, where he coached at Cleveland State. He saw Stone up close while the Australian guard was playing at Detroit Mercy under Mike Davis, going toe-to-toe with Antoine Davis - one of the most prolific scorers in recent college basketball memory. Gates respected what he saw then, and he kept tabs on Stone even after moving on to Mizzou.
In 2022-23, Stone averaged 13.9 points at Detroit before a season-ending injury. He followed that with a 20.8-point average in 2023-24, even as Detroit Mercy struggled to a 1-31 finish.
That kind of production - especially in a tough situation - stood out to Gates. So when Stone hit the portal after missing all of last season at West Virginia due to a head injury, Gates didn’t hesitate.
“Knowing that Jayden Stone came from that, I was prepared to know what’s on the other side of Jayden Stone,” Gates said. “I saw some games, I know what coaches thought. I respect the Horizon League, the coaches, and I knew the talent that he had.”
Stone’s journey hasn’t been linear, but it’s clear he’s found his footing in Columbia. Gates describes him as a relentless worker, a great teammate, and a player who’s only scratching the surface of what he can bring to this team.
“He works tirelessly, he is infectious with his personality, and he puts in the time,” Gates said. “So, we predicted it - there’s no doubt about it.”
Now, with the Tigers sitting at 14-6 overall and 4-3 in the SEC, Stone’s steady production and leadership will be crucial as they head into another tough road test. Next up: a trip to Tuscaloosa to face No.
23 Alabama. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
CT on SEC Network.
In a season where every game feels like a coin flip, Missouri knows it’s not about luck - it’s about execution. And with Jayden Stone leading the charge, they’ve got a player built for the moment.