COLUMBIA, Mo. (Interstat) — In a Southeastern Conference thriller defined by contrasting styles and a final, crushing blow, Mark Mitchell’s deep 3-pointer at the overtime buzzer lifted Missouri to an 88-87 victory over Oklahoma on Saturday afternoon at Mizzou Arena.

A crowd of 10,852 saw the Tigers, who dominated the interior all afternoon, secure the win from the perimeter when it mattered most. With the scored tied at 85 and under five seconds remaining in the extra period, Missouri inbounded the ball to Mitchell near the top of the key. The 6-foot-9 forward from Kansas City, Kansas, took one dribble to his left and launched a contested shot over a defender that swished through the net as the horn sounded, sending the home crowd into a frenzy and capping his 25-point, four-assist performance.

The dramatic finish concluded a game where Missouri’s overwhelming physical advantage inside was nearly undone by Oklahoma’s sharpshooting from beyond the arc. The Sooners connected on 12 of 27 3-point attempts, a 44.4% clip, while the Tigers managed just 6 of 21 from deep. That outside barrage allowed Oklahoma to overcome a staggering 40-12 deficit in points in the paint and a 15-4 disadvantage in offensive rebounds.

Missouri improved to 14-6 overall, while Oklahoma fell to 11-8.

The game’s most important sequence unfolded in the final minute of regulation, setting the stage for Mitchell’s heroics. Oklahoma, which had trailed for much of the second half, clawed back to tie the game at 81 on a 3-pointer by Trent Pierce with just three seconds left, forcing overtime. The Sooners had taken a 78-76 lead with 1:24 remaining after a Kirill Elatontsev hook shot and a subsequent steal, but missed opportunities to extend the lead left the door open.

Oklahoma guard Nijel Pack, the team’s top star, led all scorers with 25 points and added five assists, spearheading the perimeter attack. Xzayvier Brown contributed 19 points and six assists for the Sooners. For Missouri, T.O. Barrett of Oklahoma City complemented Mitchell with 21 points, and Jayden Stone of Perth, Australia, added 20.

The Tigers established their interior dominance early, scoring the game’s first four points in the paint and setting a tone they would maintain. Shawn Phillips, Missouri’s 7-foot center, recorded three blocks and altered numerous other shots, anchoring a defense that limited Oklahoma’s opportunities near the rim. Despite the Tigers’ size, Oklahoma stayed close throughout the first half, trailing just 36-37 at the break thanks to timely 3-pointers.

Missouri stretched its lead to as many as seven points in the second half, capitalizing on 19 points off 12 Oklahoma turnovers. But each time the Tigers threatened to pull away, the Sooners answered from long range. Pack’s fifth 3-pointer of the afternoon tied the game at 70 with just over five minutes left in regulation, initiating the back-and-forth battle that lasted through the final buzzer of overtime.

In the extra period, both teams struggled offensively, combining for just 13 points. Oklahoma took an 87-85 lead on a Xzayvier Brown jumper with 24 seconds left, setting up Missouri’s final possession. After a timeout, the Tigers executed their play to perfection, finding Mitchell for the game-winner.

Missouri’s victory, while narrow, was built on efficiency, scoring 88 points on 78 possessions for an offensive rating of 113.3. Oklahoma was slightly more efficient per possession at 115.6 but had three fewer opportunities. The Tigers also capitalized at the free-throw line, making 24 of 33 attempts compared to Oklahoma’s 23 of 30.

The game defied the pregame betting line, where Missouri was a 4.5-point favorite, and the total score of 175 easily surpassed the over/under of 152.5.

Missouri next travels to face Alabama on Tuesday. Oklahoma returns home to host Arkansas the same afternoon, looking to snap a four-game losing streak. The two teams are scheduled to meet again in Norman on March 3.