Missouri’s Road Win at Howard: Lessons in Respect and Competition

Washington, D.C. – The echoes of a history-making night in Burr Gymnasium still reverberated long after the final buzzer. On an evening that blended big-time college basketball with the intimate energy of an HBCU campus, the Missouri Tigers opened their season by defeating the Howard Bison 88-67. Yet this was more than a routine non-conference win. It was a cultural event – a Power Five program setting foot on “The Mecca” of Black college education and athletics, and a moment of pride and visibility for Howard University and HBCU basketball at large.

Key Moments and Performances

Missouri, a member of the SEC and coming off an NCAA Tournament appearance, wasted no time asserting itself in front of the packed crowd of roughly 2,300 at Howard’s Burr Gymnasium. The Tigers hit six of their first seven shots, racing out to a 16-7 lead in the opening minutes. Their size and depth were evident early – Missouri boasts one of the tallest rosters in Division I (five players 6-foot-9 or taller, including three seven-footers) and used that length to control the paint. By midway through the first half, the Tigers had extended their lead to 26-11, quieting the boisterous home crowd.

Howard, the two-time defending champion of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), refused to wilt. Graduate guard Bryce Harris – the preseason MEAC Player of the Year – showcased why he’s so highly regarded. Harris shook off any rust from last season’s injury and caught fire in the second half, hitting four three-pointers and igniting the arena with each bucket. His personal scoring run helped the Bison claw back from a 20-point deficit, trimming Missouri’s lead to just nine points with about 12:30 remaining. The gym, known affectionately as “The Burr,” was booming as Howard’s fans sensed the possibility of a major upset.

Missouri, however, responded like a seasoned power program. Coming out of a timeout, the Tigers regrouped and silenced the run with a 17-5 surge of their own. Graduate transfer center Shawn Phillips Jr. was a force inside, finishing the night with 16 points and 11 rebounds while shooting an efficient 8-for-9 from the field. Whenever Howard threatened, Phillips answered in the paint – whether it was a put-back dunk or a strong defensive rebound to halt the Bison’s momentum. Freshman guard Jayden Stone provided a spark off the bench with 13 points, including three three-pointers, stretching the Bison defense. By the six-minute mark of the second half, Missouri’s lead ballooned back to 21 points, effectively putting the game out of reach.

Howard had other standouts in the fight. Sharpshooting guard Alex Cotton, a junior transfer, caught fire from beyond the arc and connected on six three-pointers on his way to 20 points. At one stage, Cotton drilled three straight triples, sending the Howard student section into a frenzy and giving the Bison faithful hope that a comeback was brewing. But Missouri’s depth and poise held firm. The Tigers forced 13 turnovers and dominated the glass 47-28, denying Howard second chances. When the buzzer sounded, Missouri had secured the 21-point victory – its largest road win to start a season in over eight decades – but Howard’s players earned a standing ovation from the home crowd for their tenacity.

A Rare Power Five Visit to “The Burr”

Beyond the box score, the very fact this game took place at Howard’s gym was significant. In today’s college basketball landscape, it’s exceedingly rare for a Power Five program to play a true road game on an HBCU campus. Missouri’s trip to Washington, D.C. marked the first time in recent memory that an SEC team played a regular-season game at a MEAC school’s arena. Out of 79 power-conference teams in Division I, almost all typically open their seasons at home or in neutral-site events. This year, Missouri was one of only two high-major programs in the entire country to begin the season on a mid-major opponent’s floor (Boston College playing at Florida Atlantic was the other). The Tigers were the lone SEC squad to schedule a non-conference road game against a low-major opponent.

Missouri head coach Dennis Gates orchestrated the matchup via a creative scheduling agreement. When Gates learned that Howard would be opening its previous season on the road at Kansas – another powerhouse – he saw an opportunity. He reached out to Howard’s head coach, Kenny Blakeney, and proposed a two-for-one series: Howard would visit Mizzou’s arena in Columbia in 2024, Missouri would return the favor at Howard in 2025, and the Bison would come back to Missouri again in 2026. The deal gave Howard a coveted chance to host a major-conference team, and in exchange Missouri was able to secure two home games while paying a smaller “guarantee” fee than a typical one-off matchup. In an era when most big programs buy games to pad their home schedules, Gates was willing to think outside the box – and the trip to “The Burr” became a reality.

Walking into Burr Gymnasium – a cozy bandbox with a listed capacity of 2,700 – was a far cry from the cavernous SEC arenas Missouri is used to. But Gates embraced the challenge of the road atmosphere and even saw it as a valuable test for his players. “You want to galvanize your team. There’s no better way to do that than on the road,” Gates said prior to the game, emphasizing how an early hostile environment can build camaraderie. Missouri went just 3-7 in true road games last year, so facing a fired-up Howard crowd on Day One provided a trial by fire. Gates also did not shy away from the historical weight of playing at a storied HBCU. Howard University – often called “The Mecca” for its significance in Black education and culture – carries a legacy that isn’t lost on the visitors. “At some point, big picture, our players are going to appreciate and look back that they were able to play at Howard,” Gates reflected, believing the experience would leave a lasting impression on his team.

For Howard’s program, hosting Missouri wasn’t just a one-off game – it was a showcase of how far the Bison have come and an investment in where they want to go. Blakeney, now in his sixth year at Howard, has transformed the Bison from a struggling program into a conference contender with national visibility. Before his arrival, Howard hadn’t appeared in the NCAA Tournament in over 30 years. Under Blakeney’s leadership, the Bison broke that drought in 2023 and then stunned the MEAC by winning the conference tournament again in 2024 for back-to-back March Madness berths. That achievement – the first consecutive MEAC titles for Howard since 1980 and 1981 – put the college basketball world on notice that Howard is rebuilding a legacy. Blakeney, a Duke alum and D.C. native, has leveraged connections and savvy scheduling to elevate Howard’s profile. Convincing a school like Missouri to come play on campus was a coup for an HBCU athletic department. Many around Howard praised Blakeney’s savvy scheduling, noting how he leveraged connections to bring a program like Missouri to D.C. – no small feat for an HBCU.

Visibility, Community Impact and Respect

The community impact of Missouri’s visit to Howard was felt well before tip-off. Tickets sold out quickly, and by game night the line snaked outside Burr Gymnasium with students and local fans eager to witness the rare Power Five vs. HBCU clash on Howard’s home court. The sounds of Howard’s pep band and DJ music filled the air during warmups, and the cheerleaders and dance team turned the sidelines into a celebration of Bison pride. Longtime Howard supporters, faculty, and alumni packed the stands alongside curious D.C. basketball fans who relished seeing a major SEC program in this intimate setting. The game was broadcast on ESPN+, giving Howard University a national streaming spotlight on opening night.

For many in attendance, the sight of a team like Missouri in “The Burr” represented more than just a game – it was about validation and respect. HBCUs often play the role of underdog visitors in guarantee games, traveling to high-major arenas for a paycheck and a shot at an upset. Here, the script was flipped: the HBCU team was the host, and the big-conference team had to adjust to a smaller gym and a different kind of energy. The intimate venue amplified every chant and drumbeat. When Howard went on its second-half run, the roar from the crowd was deafening, illustrating how powerful a true home-court advantage can be – something HBCU teams rarely get to wield against power-conference foes.

For Howard alumni and fans, this game was a statement about earning respect and recognition. The game showcased the depth and talent present in HBCU basketball. In recent years, HBCU programs have proven they can compete on the national stage – from Howard pushing Kansas in the NCAA Tournament, to SWAC teams like Texas Southern knocking off SEC opponents (the Tigers stunned Florida in an upset not long ago), to MEAC upstarts like Norfolk State taking power-conference teams to the wire. Nights like this underscore that inviting an HBCU into the spotlight on its own terms isn’t just good P.R.; it’s good basketball.

Gates called the trip an educational experience for his players – an opportunity to show them the nation’s capital and a historically Black campus that some had never seen. In his eyes, moments like these transcend basketball and remind everyone that the sport can be a force for unity.

Looking Ahead for Missouri and Howard

For Missouri, the convincing win in D.C. is an encouraging start to what they hope will be a breakout season. The Tigers finished 22-12 last year and earned an NCAA Tournament berth, but an upset loss in the first round left them hungry for more. In his fourth year at the helm, Dennis Gates has assembled a deep roster blending veteran transfers and young talent. Senior forward Mark Mitchell – who had a relatively quiet 9-point, 6-rebound outing against Howard after dealing with a minor wrist injury in the preseason – is expected to be one of Missouri’s stars and a potential All-SEC performer. Mitchell led Mizzou in scoring last season and will be a focal point as the Tigers navigate a tough SEC schedule. The emergence of newcomers like Shawn Phillips Jr. and Jayden Stone only raises the ceiling for this squad. Gates scheduled this early road test to harden his team, and it appears to have paid off. “You know the character of your team by how they treat opponents on the road,” Gates said, and now Missouri will carry that confidence back home for their next game. The Tigers return to Columbia for a home opener against Southeast Missouri State, looking to build on the momentum and camaraderie forged on Howard’s court. With the SEC loaded with ranked teams, Mizzou will need every bit of that toughness as they chase a higher finish in the conference and a deeper run in March.

Howard, meanwhile, will take plenty of positives from the loss as they set their sights on MEAC competition. The Bison were projected to be near the top of the MEAC again this year, and their showing against Missouri validated that hype. Bryce Harris’s 27-point explosion confirmed that the fifth-year guard is back in full form – great news for Howard considering he missed most of last season. Harris, along with sharp-shooter Alex Cotton and point guard Cam Gillus (who dished out six assists against Missouri), form a nucleus that can definitely contend for another conference title. It’s worth noting that Howard pushed Missouri despite not having one of their key frontcourt players, junior forward Cedric Taylor III, who sat out with a wrist injury. Once Taylor returns to action, the Bison will have added size and depth. Coach Blakeney has instilled a mindset in his team to “compete, play smart, and stay connected” no matter the opponent, as Harris put it. That mentality should serve them well in games where they won’t be facing a roster full of 6-10 and 7-foot giants.

The experience of going toe-to-toe with an SEC program has hardened Howard for the road ahead. The Bison have another non-conference home game coming up against local Division II foe UDC, and later this season they’ll test themselves on the road at other high-majors. Each of these challenges is a stepping stone as Howard aims for a third straight trip to March Madness – and perhaps to achieve what no MEAC team has done in decades: win a game in the NCAA Tournament. Blakeney often reminds his players that these “big games” are opportunities to learn and grow. As the final horn sounded against Missouri, he gathered his team and applauded them for their fight. The scoreboard didn’t tilt in Howard’s favor, but the Bison left the court knowing they had earned Missouri’s respect and shown a national audience what Howard basketball is all about.

Sources

• University of Missouri Athletics – https://mutigers.com/news/2025/11/3/mens-basketball-mens-basketball-wins-opener-over-howard-88-67
• Howard University Athletics – https://hubison.com/news/2025/11/3/mens-basketball-harris-leads-mens-hoops-in-home-loss-to-tigers.aspx
• Sports Illustrated (FanNation) – https://www.si.com/college/missouri/basketball/dennis-gates-explains-why-mizzou-is-opening-season-at-howard-not-at-home
• 247Sports (PowerMizzou) – https://247sports.com/college/missouri/article/how-mizzou-basketball-season-opener-at-howard-came-together-259565862/
• HBCU Gameday – https://hbcugameday.com/2025/05/28/sec-hoops-squad-set-to-play-season-opener-on-hbcu-campus/
• ESPN (AP) – https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=401829423