Mizzou Heads to College Station Riding Momentum, Eyes Statement Win vs. Texas A&M
The Missouri Tigers are staying on the road for the second straight SEC showdown, this time heading to College Station for a primetime clash with Texas A&M on Wednesday night. Tipoff from Reed Arena is set for 8 p.m. ET on SEC Network, and this one has all the makings of a high-stakes midseason battle between two teams with SEC tournament seeding on the line.
Tigers Trending Up
Mizzou enters the matchup with a 16-7 overall record, sitting at 6-4 in conference play. The Tigers are coming off back-to-back wins, including a gritty 84-79 victory over Mississippi State and a dominant 78-59 showing against South Carolina.
The engine behind Missouri’s recent surge? Senior forward Mark Mitchell, who’s been nothing short of a do-it-all force this season.
He leads the team in points (17.6), rebounds (5.8), and assists (3.3) per game-a rare trifecta that puts him on the verge of joining elite company in program history. Only Albert White (1998-99) has ever led the Tigers in all three categories for an entire season.
Mitchell’s versatility was on full display in Columbia’s latest win over the Gamecocks. He dropped 20 points, pulled down 11 boards, and dished out five assists-becoming the first Tiger in SEC play to post a 20-10-5 stat line. That kind of production doesn’t just show up in the box score-it sets the tone for the entire team.
Jayden Stone, T.O. Barrett Fueling the Fire
Graduate transfer Jayden Stone has made an immediate impact in his first season with the Tigers, averaging 15.1 points per game. That puts him in rare air-just one of four Mizzou newcomers in the past 40 years to average 15+ points in their debut season.
Meanwhile, sophomore T.O. Barrett is coming into his own in a big way.
After scoring in double figures just once in his first 35 career games, Barrett has found his rhythm, putting up 13.9 points and 5.3 rebounds over the last seven contests. He made his first collegiate start on January 24 and promptly dropped a career-high 21 points-the most by a Tiger in a debut start since 2016.
Barrett’s emergence adds another layer to a Mizzou offense that’s already clicking. The Tigers are averaging 80.3 points per game on the season, and when they hit 73 or more, they’re undefeated at 16-0.
When they don’t? A winless 0-7.
That’s the magic number for Missouri-get to 73, and good things tend to follow.
Defense Taking Shape in SEC Play
While the offense gets the headlines, Missouri’s defense has quietly become one of the best in the SEC. In conference games, the Tigers rank first in field goal percentage defense (41.1%) and third in scoring defense (75.9 points allowed).
Their performance against South Carolina was their best yet-limiting the Gamecocks to just 59 points while holding their leading scorer, Meechie Johnson, to 13 points on 2-of-13 shooting. Mizzou also posted season-bests in field goal defense (30.9%) and three-point defense (13.6%) in that win.
If the Tigers can keep that defensive intensity rolling, they’ll be a tough out for anyone in the conference.
Scouting the Aggies
Texas A&M comes into Wednesday night with a 17-6 record, 7-3 in SEC play. But the Aggies are looking to bounce back after dropping their last two games-a 100-97 shootout loss to Alabama and a rough 86-67 defeat at Florida.
Rashaun Agee has been the heartbeat of the Aggies’ attack, leading the team in both scoring (14.0) and rebounding (8.8). He’s one of five Aggies averaging double figures, and that depth has helped A&M put up a blistering 90.9 points per game-tops in the SEC.
Jacari Lane leads the team in assists with 3.8 per game, and this group likes to push the pace and light up the scoreboard. But they’ve also been vulnerable on the defensive end, allowing 78.1 points per game. That could open the door for a Mizzou offense that’s been humming when it finds its rhythm early.
Series Snapshot
This is a rivalry with some history. The two teams have faced off annually since the 1996-97 season, and Texas A&M holds a 27-20 edge in the all-time series. The Aggies have taken the last five matchups, including a heartbreaker last season when Wade Taylor IV hit a game-winning three with 2.1 seconds left to seal a 67-64 win.
Missouri’s last win over A&M came back in 2022, a 70-66 victory at Reed Arena. If the Tigers want to snap that losing streak, they’ll need to bring the same intensity and balance they’ve shown over the last two games.
What to Watch For
This game is shaping up to be a clash of styles-Mizzou’s improving defense against one of the most explosive offenses in the SEC. If the Tigers can control the tempo, get to their magic number of 73, and continue getting strong contributions from Mitchell, Stone, and Barrett, they’ll have a shot to steal one on the road.
And with SEC tournament positioning heating up, every win counts.
Tipoff’s at 8 p.m. ET. Buckle up.