Mizzou Opens Season Against Former Coach's Cleveland State
AI-generated image · US National Wire
Missouri Tigers face a Cleveland State squad led by former assistant Rob Summers in a matchup defined by shared history.
The Missouri Tigers are set to open their regular season Tuesday, Nov. 2, at 7 p.m. CT against Cleveland State at Mizzou Arena, as Sports Illustrated first reported.
The matchup features significant ties between the two programs. Missouri head coach Dennis Gates began his coaching career at Cleveland State from 2019-20 through 2021-22. Now, Rob Summers, who served as an assistant to Gates at both Cleveland State and Missouri, is entering his second season as the head coach of the Vikings. Additionally, CSU assistant Dalon King and assistant Tre Gomillion—a former guard for both teams—previously served on Gates' staff at Missouri, Sports Illustrated reports.
Missouri enters the game following a 90-81 exhibition loss to UNLV, where Jason Crowe Jr. led the team with 25 points. The Tigers' roster features five-star freshman Jason Crowe Jr. and Toni Bryant, alongside four-star transfers Kennard Davis, Jamier Jones, and Bryson Tiller, as well as veterans Trent Pierce and Mark Mitchell. Cleveland State did not play a public exhibition game prior to this opener.
The two teams previously met on Nov. 28, 2025, in Columbia, a game Missouri won 86-59. The season opener will be broadcast on SEC Network Plus and the Tiger Radio Network.