Missouri
20-12,10-8SEC
Kentucky
21-12,10-8SEC
Kentucky Outlasts Men’s Basketball, 78-72
3/12/2026 3:12:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Nashville, Tenn. – The Mizzou men's basketball rallied from a 16-point second-half deficit to take a lead but ultimately fell short to Kentucky, 78-72, in the SEC Tournament. The Tigers are now 20-12 on the year, while the Wildcats advance to the quarterfinals with a 21-12 mark.
MIZZOU LEADERS
For the second-straight game, senior Mark Mitchell tallied 32 points, matching his career high. The senior made 13-of-21 field goals, while also leading Mizzou with seven rebounds on the night.
Sophomore T.O. Barrett added 13 points to go with a personal-best seven assists and three steals.
GAME RECAP
The Wildcats used a strong stretch midway through the opening period to take a double-digit lead. Mizzou missed eight-straight field goals as Kentucky went on a 13-2 run, turning a 20-20 contest into a 33-22 lead. A late triple by Mizzou sent the teams into the locker room with Kentucky ahead by nine, 38-29.
Kentucky carried its momentum into the second half and would stretch its advantage to as many as 16 points, 53-37, with 14:33 remaining. Mizzou, however, would make its run behind the strength of Mitchell.
A 20-7 stretch quickly cut into the Kentucky lead as the Tigers pulled within three, 60-57, with over eight minutes remaining in regulation. Mitchell led Mizzou with eight of his 23 second-half points during the run as MU was within a single possession for the first time since the score was 22-20.
The Tigers had an initial chance to pull closer but an offensive foul and then a blocked jumper kept the contest a three-point game before Kentucky answered with a triple on the other end. The Wildcats would go up by as many as seven once again, 67-60, before Mizzou notched a 10-2 run for its first lead since the game was 3-0. Mitchell tallied seven of the 10 points with Trent Pierce adding a triple as MU went ahead, 70-69, with 2:34 remaining.
A foul on the other end, however, would send the Wildcats to the free-throw line, igniting a 7-0 run to move ahead for good en route to the 78-72 victory.
TEAM STATS
The Tigers shot 47.3 percent on the day with a 5-of-13 clip from 3-point range. The Wildcats, meanwhile, connected on 49.1 percent of their field goals, going 6-of-21 from beyond the arc.
UP NEXT
The Tigers await their postseason fate with Selection Sunday to the 2026 NCAA Tournament announced at 5 p.m. CT on Sunday.
