Live Blog as Mizzou and Illinois Fight For Braggin' Rights

Updates and analysis from Missouri's final non-conference game of the regular season.

Sam Simon/MissouriOnSI

ST. LOUIS — Against Illinois, Missouri needed to, at the very least, look better than it did against Kansas. Instead, the avalanche downhill came even quicker and harder for the Tigers to its border foes to the east.

It's Missouri's lowest-scoring performance in the series since a match in the 1943-44 season when Illinois won 39-29. It's the most lopsided final score in the history of the series that date backs to the 1932-33 season.

Missouri lost 91-48 to No. 20 Illinois, dropping to 10-3 on the season. The game was virtually already out of reach late in the first half once Illinois took a 14-point lead with 3:24 still in the half.

Missouri tied the game at 14 with 11:36 remaining in the first half, but it was only a matter of time until the Tigers’ flat offense fell behind Illinois.

Illinois shot an impressive 45.5% on 3s. Missouri’s defense looked scattered trying to multitask between defending Illinois’ tail bigs and also the aggressive perimeter shooters, leaving plenty of open looks on the outside.

Missouri, on the other hand, hasn’t had much of a perimeter offense. That’s been exasperated over the last month as guard Jayden Stone has missed the last seven games with a hand injury.  Missouri's offense didn't have many solutions to get around, over or through Illinois. The Tigers shot 28.6% from the field, including a 27.3% mark on 3s.

On the interior, Missouri struggled immensely on the glass on both sides. The Tigers were out-rebounded 43-24, and scored just five second-chance points compared to 29 for Illinois.

Sam Simon/MissouriOnSI

By the time the band played the Missouri Waltz early in the second half, Missouri was waltzing to a slow waltz to an embarrassing loss. From the 3:24 mark of the first half to the 12:00 mark in the second, Illinois outscored Missouri 25-9. 

With a second ugly loss to a ranked, rivalry opponent, Missouri has put all the pressure of any hopes for a NCAA Tournament bid on what will need to be an impressive SEC slate that includes a significant turnaround.

Missouri will open SEC play at 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 3, hosting No. 22 Florida.

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Live Updates

Second Half

Final Score: Missouri 48, Illinois 91

Final Stats

StatMonitr

Missouri guard Anthony Robinson II just crawled to the sideline to Dennis Gates before limping to the locker room with a trainer.

9:19 - Missouri 36, Illinois 63

This is approaching real ugly territory. A hoard of the Missouri fan section is already heading out as Illinois nears double of Missouri's point total. A dunk from Stojakovic was another exclamation point on a dominant day for the Fighting Illini.

12:17 - Missouri 31, Illinois 56

Now Illinois big man Zvonimr Ivisic is leaving the court with a trainer. Looked as if he was holding a towel to his face.

17:39 - Missouri 28, Illinois 52

Things have gone from bad to worse in this half for Missouri. Illinois has gone on a 13-3 run to open the half, capping it off with a 3-point make from Zvionimir Ivisic. Illinois offense basically doing whatever it pleases.

Illinois guard Andrej Stojakovic is back on the court warming up with the team ahead of the second half. He limped off the court in the first half, but looks set to return.

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First Half

Halftime Stats

StatMonitr

Halftime - Missouri 25, Illinois 41

Woof. Ugly half of basketball for Missouri. Tigers are being outdone in just about every aspect of the game. Ultimately though, the flaws Missouri is showing aren't anything new. Those areas are just being exposed further by the best team the Tigers have had to play so far.

Defensively, Illinois has had plenty of weakly contested 3-point attempts. The Fighting Illini are shooting 46.7% on 3s, much higher than their usual percentage, which ranks at 179 in the country.

6:40 - Missouri 18, Illinois 27

Illinois is the first team Missouri has gone against that matches the Tigers' height, and it's showing. Offensively, Missouri is trying to play physically in the paint, but it's not working too well. The Tiger' preimeter shooting continues to be subpar too. Defensively, Missouri continuing to let up a number of open looks. Illinois has gone on a 13-4 scoring run in less than five minutes.

Illinois guard Andrej Stojakovic just limped to the locker room with trainers. Losing his offensive ability would be significant for the Fighting Illini.

Andrej Stojaković, @IlliniMBB's second leading scorer, slips on the court and limps off the floor. pic.twitter.com/Ca21leudvu

— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) December 23, 2025

9:00 - Missouri 18, Illinois 21

Nicholas Randall checking in now for the Tigers. Big moment for the true freshman.

11:16 - Missouri 14, Illinois 14

Just two points in a little less than three minutes for both of these teams. So far, nine of Missouri's points have came on 3-point shots. Illinois' offense has been able to drive inside effectively though.

14:07 - Missouri 12, Illinois 12

Missouri gets two momentum-building plays in just under 15 seconds, with Jacob Crews lobbing up a 3-point shot that falls in as the shot clock expiries to tie the game, then an errant Illinois pass goes out of bounds.

Starting Lineups

Missouri	Illinois
Anthony Robinson II	Andrej Stojakovic
Annor Boateng	Kylan Boswell
Jacob Crews	Keaton Wagler
Mark Mitchell	David Mirkovic
Shawn Phillips Jr.	Ivisic Tomislav

Pre Game

• Illinois is much more represented in the crowd at the Enterprise Center. Noticeable part of Missouri's section has been infiltrated by Illinois fans.

MissouriOnSI

#Mizzou and Illinois set to face off at 7 p.m.

Follow our blog for updates and analysis: https://t.co/TlBOfeuqUu pic.twitter.com/c4KWDuy8YT

— Missouri Tigers On SI (@MizzouSI) December 23, 2025

• Forward Jevon Porter will miss the game with a leg injury, per the team. Guard Jayden Stone and forward Trent Pierce will also miss the game, according to a report from Eli Hoff of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

How to Watch

Who: Missouri (10-2, 0-0 SEC) vs. No. 20 Illinois (8-3, 1-1 Big 10)

What: Missouri's final non-conference game of the season.

When: Monday, Dec. 22, 7 p.m.

Where: Enterprise Center in St. Louis

TV: FS1 (Play-by-play: Brandon Gaudin, analyst: Casey Jacobsen)

Radio: Tiger Radio Network (Play-By-Play: Mike Kelly Color: Chris Gervino)

SiriusXM: Illiinois - 85, Missouri - 390

Series: Illinois leads 35-20, taking three of the last four.

Last Meeting: Missouri lost 80-77 after a back-and-forth second half that included four lead changes in the final five minutes. Kasparas Jakucionis landed a jump shot with 28 seconds remaining. Tony Perkins and Mark Mitchell led Missouri with 18 points each.

Last Time Out, Missouri: Over a week before Monday's matchup, the Tigers took a 82-60 win over Bethune-Cookman on Dec. 14. Missouri's three offensive leaders — Ant Robinson II, Mark Mitchell and Jacob Crews — all had impressive performances to cap off a two-game win-streak for the Tigers.

Last Time Out, Illinois: The Fighting Illini had their first Big 10 home game, hosting and losing to No. 23 Nebraska off of a last-second 3-point shot to give the Cornhuskers a 83-80 win.

Missouri Stat LeadersEmpty heading

• Points: Mark Mitchell (18.2 on 59.8 FG%)
• Rebounds: Mark Mitchell (6.1,)
• Assists: Anthony Robinson II (3.7 with 1.8 turnovers)

Illinois Stat LeadersEmpty heading

• Points: Kylan Boswell (16.1 on 47.4 FG%)
• Rebounds: David Mirkovic (8.8)
• Assists: Kylan Boswell (3.5 with 1.3 turnovers)