Five Takeaways from Mizzou’s 71-67 exhibition win at Kansas State

1. Despite the exhibition game's non-counting nature, Missouri Tigers secured a 71-67 victory over Kansas State Wildcats at Bramlage Coliseum on October 23, 2026. The Tigers hadn't won at Bramlage in 22 years, making this a notable achievement.

2. The absence of full capacity at Bramlage, coupled with Kansas State being among the worst teams in the Big 12, has historically seen Missouri struggle at this venue. However, this recent success at Bramlage is encouraging.

3. The game featured significant contributions from various players. Trent Burns played a brief 3 minutes, Luke Northweather contributed for 4, Aaron Rowe played 5, and Jamier Jones had the most notable presence with 8 minutes on the court. Mark Mitchell, who didn't score, played 16 minutes while Trent Pierce appeared for 15 minutes but scored 10 points.

4. Dennis Gates, the coach, was particularly strategic in his substitutions. The final 10 minutes saw no involvement from Mark Mitchell and Trent Pierce, indicating a shift in strategy to involve younger players and build their experience.

5. Key performances were observed from Jason Crowe, Jr., who scored 21 points with 5 assists, 3 steals, and minimal turnovers. Mark Mitchell's performance was less impressive, suggesting he is still adapting to the new environment. Toni Bryant, a freshman, played a significant role despite missing some shots, contributing 6 points, 2 blocks, and showing energy on defense.

Bryson Tiller, despite having 5 turnovers, displayed his defensive abilities with 9 rebounds and 5 blocks. Gates' ability to deploy players smartly was instrumental in generating offense, even though the team faced challenges in creating scoring opportunities.