Missouri Rallies Past Howard in Overtime
Missouri overcame a 19-point second-half deficit to beat Howard 91-88 in overtime to open the 2026-27 season.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Basketball
McKenzie Mathurin scored 29 points in her Missouri debut as the Tigers rallied from a 19-point second-half deficit to defeat Howard 91-88 in overtime. Natayla Hodge tied the game at 82 with less than a minute left in regulation.
Why it matters
The comeback gives Missouri a 1-0 start to the 2026-27 season and shows a full-court press can swing a game that appeared lost. For Columbia fans, the win marks the program's opening result of the new campaign.
Missouri scored eight points off seven second-half Howard turnovers and ran a 15-0 fourth-quarter run to erase a 19-point deficit. Nevaeh Caffey scored 17 points, Khloe Ford added 15 and Tanyuel Welch had 14.
The players
McKenzie Mathurin
Mathurin scored 29 points in her Missouri debut, leading the Tigers' offense in the opening game of the season.
Natayla Hodge
Hodge hit a shot with less than one minute left in regulation to tie the game at 82 and force overtime.
Nevaeh Caffey
Caffey scored 17 points for Missouri in the win over Howard.
The details
Missouri turned to a full-court press in the fourth quarter, forcing turnovers and hitting shots to cut the deficit to one point. The Tigers scored nine points in overtime to complete the win over Howard.
Timeline
Missouri defeated Howard 91-88 in overtime on Nov. 2, 2026.
Missouri plays at Little Rock on Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, with a 7 p.m. tip-off.
Season Trajectory
The overtime win gives Missouri an early 1-0 record in the 2026-27 season, setting the tone for a year that will be measured against its conference schedule. A comeback of this size in the opener signals depth and resolve that can carry into league play.
Mathurin's 29-point debut gives Missouri a scoring option to track in fantasy and betting markets early in the season. The Tigers' full-court press in the fourth quarter is the tactical shift to watch when they face Little Rock on Friday.
The takeaway
A deficit of 19 points in the second half does not decide a game until the final buzzer, and Missouri's defensive pressure proved it. Fans and bettors should watch whether that intensity carries into the Little Rock matchup.
What happens next
Missouri plays at Little Rock on Friday, Nov. 6, 2026, with a 7 p.m. tip-off.
Further reading
For more on the program, see Basketball coverage across the site.
