Mizzou’s Road Win Over South Carolina May Not Be Flashy, But It’s Exactly What They Needed
In the SEC, there’s no such thing as an easy road win. That’s not just coach-speak - it’s backed by the numbers.
Even the so-called “bottom” teams in the league are far from pushovers. Case in point: Missouri’s road trip to South Carolina, which looked like a manageable matchup on paper, but was projected by KenPom to be a one-point loss for the Tigers.
That tells you everything you need to know about the depth of the conference. South Carolina might now sit as the SEC’s lowest-rated team in KenPom at No. 96, but that’s still a far cry from where the league’s basement dwellers used to be.
Just a few years ago, we were seeing teams in the 180s and 200s. The average worst-ranked SEC team since conference expansion?
Around 173. So yeah, winning on the road in this league in 2026 is a very different animal than it was in 2013.
That context makes Missouri’s win in Columbia a lot more meaningful than it might seem at first glance. In fact, based on KenPom rankings, it ranks as the Tigers’ 15th-best SEC road win since joining the conference - and that’s not nothing.
The Game: A Tale of Two Halves
Missouri didn’t exactly play a perfect game, but they didn’t need to. What they did was survive the first half, clean things up in the second, and let their stars do what stars do.
The first half was a bit of a mess, with Mizzou coughing up the ball 11 times - that’s a turnover rate north of 21%. And yet, they still managed to score 34 points on just 27 shots, thanks to relentless rim attacks and second-chance opportunities. Twelve offensive rebounds in the first half helped keep them afloat.
In the second half, the Tigers tightened the screws. Just three turnovers, better shot selection, and as a result, 44 points on 27 shots.
The offensive rebounding dipped, but that’s mostly because they were hitting more shots. Funny how that works when you take care of the ball.
On the other side, South Carolina just couldn’t buy a bucket. The Gamecocks missed their first nine three-point attempts and finished with their second-worst shooting performance of the season.
Even if they’d hit a few more from deep, it likely wouldn’t have changed the outcome. They’re 13th in the SEC in three-point shooting for a reason - this isn’t a team that lights it up from outside.
Defensively, Mizzou turned in arguably their best performance of the year against a high-major opponent. They held South Carolina to just 0.90 points per possession and a brutal 33.6% effective field goal percentage - both season-best marks for the Tigers. That’s the kind of defensive effort that can travel in March, if they can bottle it up.
The Turning Point
Midway through the second half, South Carolina made a push. They’d cut the lead to seven and had some momentum.
Then Jayden Stone stepped up and buried a three that sparked an 8-0 run. Just like that, the window slammed shut.
Mizzou never looked back.
Star Power: Mitchell and Stone Lead the Way
Let’s talk about Mark Mitchell. The guy has been a rock all season, and this game was no different.
Ten points in each half, 11 rebounds, five assists, and a ridiculous 142.9 offensive rating. He played 90% of the minutes and never looked tired.
Mitchell has now scored in double figures in every SEC game, and he’s doing it with more minutes and more usage than last year - and somehow, he's even more efficient.
He’s not just scoring, either. He’s facilitating, rebounding, defending - doing all the little things that make a team better.
It’s easy to take that kind of consistency for granted, but don’t. Mitchell is the engine that makes this team go.
Then there’s Jayden Stone. After an up-and-down start to the season, he’s settling into a key role.
That big three in the second half? Clutch.
But it wasn’t just one shot - Stone’s been stringing together solid performances and giving Mizzou the secondary scoring threat they’ve been missing. His postgame interview with the SEC Network showed a guy who’s grown, both on and off the court.
He’s not trying to be the star - he’s just making plays, and making them count.
Supporting Cast Doing Just Enough
T.O. Barrett and Trent Pierce didn’t light up the box score, but they filled in the gaps.
Anthony Robinson had a solid outing, and Shawn Phillips gave them good minutes. The top seven in the rotation is solid, but if Mizzou wants to make a real push toward the NCAA Tournament bubble, they’ll need one or two more contributors to step up.
Nicholas Randall could be one of those guys, especially if Jevon Porter remains sidelined. Randall’s not a natural five, but he’s been dependable.
He brings energy, fights on the glass, and isn’t afraid to mix it up defensively. His offensive game is limited, but you can live with that when he’s making effort plays.
What It Means
This win won’t blow up bracket projections, but it’s the kind of game Mizzou had to have. Their résumé has some blemishes, and the margin for error is razor-thin.
Every road win from here on out is gold. And considering how tough the SEC has been this season, stacking up road Ws - even against the league’s lowest-ranked team - is no small feat.
Missouri's path forward only gets steeper. But if they can bring this level of defensive intensity and keep getting efficient performances from Mitchell and Stone, they’ve got a puncher’s chance to stay in the NCAA Tournament conversation.
For now, it’s a win that matters. A win that shows growth. And maybe, just maybe, a win that keeps hope alive.