Photos: Missouri downed by Kentucky in the 2026 SEC men's basketball tournament
The No. 8 seed Missouri Tigers lost 78-72 to No. 9 Kentucky Wildcats in Round 2 of the SEC men's basketball tournament in Nashville on Thursday, March 12, 2026.
Missouri guard T.O. Barrett shoots over Kentucky center Malachi Moreno during the second half of an SEC Tournament NCAA game in Nashville on Thursday, March 12, 2026.Â
Missouri guard Anthony Robinson II (0) battles for the ball with Kentucky forward Mouhamed Dioubate (23) during the second half of an SEC Tournament NCAA basketball game in Nashville, TN, Thursday, March 12, 2026.
Missouri center Shawn Phillips Jr. (15) shoots over Kentucky forward Mouhamed Dioubate (23) during the second half of an SEC Tournament NCAA basketball game in Nashville, TN, Thursday, March 12, 2026.
Missouri guard T.O. Barrett (5) tries to get the fans excited during the second half of an SEC Tournament NCAA basketball game against Kentucky in Nashville, TN, Thursday, March 12, 2026.
A fan holds up a sign during the second half of an SEC Tournament NCAA basketball game between Kentucky and Missouri in Nashville, TN, Thursday, March 12, 2026.
Missouri head coach Dennis Gates talks to his players during a timeout the first half of an SEC Tournament NCAA basketball game against Kentucky in Nashville, TN, Thursday, March 12, 2026.
Missouri guard T.O. Barrett (5) loses control of the ball as he’s defended by Kentucky center Malachi Moreno (24) during the second half of an SEC Tournament NCAA basketball game in Nashville, TN, Thursday, March 12, 2026.
Missouri forward Mark Mitchell reacts to being fouled during the second half of an SEC Tournament NCAA basketball game against Kentucky in Nashville on Thursday, March 12, 2026.
Missouri guard Jayden Stone (17) collides with Kentucky guard Otega Oweh (00) as he drives for a shot during the first half of an SEC Tournament NCAA basketball game in Nashville, TN, Thursday, March 12, 2026.
Missouri head coach Dennis Gates talks to an official during the first half of an SEC Tournament NCAA basketball game in Nashville, TN, Thursday, March 12, 2026.
Missouri guard Jayden Stone (17) attempts to steal the ball from Kentucky guard Denzel Aberdeen (1) during the first half of an SEC Tournament NCAA basketball game in Nashville, TN, Thursday, March 12, 2026.
Missouri guard T.O. Barrett (5) saves the ball from going out of bounds in front of Kentucky forward Mouhamed Dioubate (23) during the second half of an SEC Tournament NCAA basketball game in Nashville, TN, Thursday, March 12, 2026.
Missouri center Shawn Phillips Jr. (15) sits on the bench after fouling out during the second half of an SEC Tournament NCAA basketball game against Kentucky in Nashville, TN, Thursday, March 12, 2026.
Missouri center Shawn Phillips Jr. (15) sits on the bench after fouling out during the second half of an SEC Tournament NCAA basketball game against Kentucky in Nashville, TN, Thursday, March 12, 2026.
Missouri guard T.O. Barrett (5) drives against Kentucky forward Andrija Jelavic (4) during the second half of an SEC Tournament NCAA basketball game in Nashville, TN, Thursday, March 12, 2026.
Missouri head coach Dennis Gates talks to Missouri guard T.O. Barrett during the second half of an SEC Tournament NCAA basketball game against Kentucky in Nashville, TN, Thursday, March 12, 2026.Â
Missouri guard Jayden Stone drives against Kentucky guard Denzel Aberdeen during the first half of a second-round SEC Tournament game Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Nashville.
Missouri forward Mark Mitchell shoots over Kentucky center Malachi Moreno during the first half of a second-round SEC Tournament game Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Nashville.
Mark Mitchell scored 32 points for the Tigers, who could've used a win to feel more confident about their NCAA Tournament chances.
"We gifted some points in the paint based off our turnovers," Missouri coach Dennis Gates said. "We gifted fast-break points."
Mitchell has set and matched a career high with 32 points in each of the Tigers' last two games — yet they've still lost both.
