COLUMBIA, Mo. (Interstat) — Mark Mitchell scored 29 points and Missouri survived a fierce challenge from in-state foe Southeast Missouri State for an 89-84 victory in a nonconference men’s basketball game Friday night at Mizzou Arena.

In a contest that defied pregame expectations, the Tigers improved to 2-0 while the Redhawks fell to 0-2 despite leading for much of the first half and keeping the game within a single possession in the final minute.

Southeast Missouri State came out aggressively, building a 51-46 halftime lead behind the scoring of Braxton Stacker and Luke Almodovar. The Redhawks shot efficiently in the opening period and capitalized on Missouri’s early turnovers.

Missouri regrouped after halftime, methodically chipping away at the deficit before taking the lead midway through the second half. The Tigers’ advantage grew to as many as nine points, but Southeast Missouri State refused to fade, cutting the margin to 87-84 on Luke Almodovar’s 3-pointer with 31 seconds remaining.

The Redhawks had a chance to tie in the final seconds, but Almodovar’s contested 3-point attempt from the top of the key missed as time expired.

Mitchell, a 6-foot-9 forward from Kansas City, Kansas, was efficient throughout, making 11 of his 15 field goal attempts while adding three assists. His interior scoring proved critical as Missouri dominated points in the paint 46-28.

Stacker led Southeast Missouri State with 26 points, displaying a versatile offensive game that included three 3-pointers. Almodovar added 24 points for the Redhawks, connecting on four shots from beyond the arc.

Missouri’s offensive efficiency proved decisive as the Tigers shot 59.3% from the field compared to Southeast Missouri State’s 46%. The Tigers also capitalized on their free throw opportunities down the stretch, making 19 of 31 attempts, while the Redhawks converted 17 of 21.

Anthony Robinson contributed 15 points for Missouri, while Jayden Stone added 14. Marqueas Bell provided a spark off the bench for Southeast Missouri State with 13 points in just 16 minutes of action.

Both teams displayed active defenses, with Southeast Missouri State recording 11 steals and Missouri collecting 10. The Tigers also blocked six shots, including three from 7-foot center Shawn Phillips.

The game featured 19 lead changes and 10 ties, with neither team able to establish more than a nine-point advantage. The announced crowd of 11,314 saw a back-and-forth contest that wasn’t decided until the final possession.

Missouri will return to action Sunday when it hosts Virginia Military Institute, while Southeast Missouri State will look for its first win Wednesday against Webster.