# 1996–97 Missouri Tigers men's basketball team

The 1996–97 Missouri Tigers men's basketball team represented the University of Missouri during the 1996–97 men's college basketball season. The highlights of the season included upsetting rival and number-one ranked Kansas at home in double overtime and an unexpected run to the finals of the Big 12 tournament.

## Schedule

| Date time, TV | Opponent$^#$ | Result | Record | Site city, state |
| November 23* no | Chicago State | W 76–46 | 1–0 | Hearnes Center Columbia, MO |
| November 29* no | vs. Tennessee-Chattanooga San Juan Shootout | W 83–74 | 2–0 | Caguas Municipal Complex San Juan, Puerto Rico |
| November 30* no | vs. No. 10 Clemson San Juan Shootout | L 45–47 | 2–1 | Caguas Municipal Complex San Juan, Puerto Rico |
| December 1* no | vs. Creighton San Juan Shootout | W 73–71 $^{OT}$ | 3–1 | Caguas Municipal Complex San Juan, Puerto Rico |
| December 4* no | Arkansas State | W 81–47 | 4–1 | Hearnes Center Columbia, MO |
| December 7* no, ESPN | No. 22 Arkansas | L 76–80 | 4–2 | Hearnes Center Columbia, MO |
| December 15* no | Southeast Missouri | W 64–50 | 5–2 | Hearnes Center Columbia, MO |
| December 17* no | Northwest Missouri | W 77–56 | 6–2 | Hearnes Center Columbia, MO |
| December 19* no | Mercer | W 90–63 | 7–2 | Hearnes Center Columbia, MO |
| December 21* no, ESPN | at Iowa | L 77–88 | 7–3 | Carver–Hawkeye Arena Iowa City, IA |
| December 28* no | at Illinois Braggin' Rights | L 69–85 | 7–4 | Assembly Hall Champaign, IL |
| December 30* no | Southern | W 111–69 | 8–4 | Hearnes Center Columbia, MO |
| January 4 no | No. 4 Iowa State | L 65–68 | 8–5 (0–1) | Hearnes Center Columbia, MO |
| January 7 no | Colorado | L 78–87 | 8–6 (0–2) | Hearnes Center Columbia, MO |
| January 11 no | at Oklahoma State | L 67–68 | 8–7 (0–3) | Gallagher-Iba Arena Stillwater, OK |
| January 14 no | Baylor | W 82–66 | 9–7 (1–3) | Hearnes Center Columbia, MO |
| January 18 no, ESPN | at Nebraska | L 53–76 | 9–8 (1–4) | Bob Devaney Sports Center Lincoln, NE |
| January 22 no | Nebraska | W 75–74 | 10–8 (2–4) | Hearnes Center Columbia, MO |
| January 26 no, CBS | at No. 23 Texas | L 75–80 | 10–9 (2–5) | Frank Erwin Center Austin, TX |
| January 28 no | at Texas A&M | L 57–61 | 10–10 (2–6) | G. Rollie White Coliseum College Station, TX |
| February 1 no | Kansas State | W 85–63 | 11–10 (3–6) | Hearnes Center Columbia, MO |
| February 4 no | No. 1 Kansas Border War | W 96–94 $^{2OT}$ | 12–10 (4–6) | Hearnes Center Columbia, MO |
| February 9* no, ABC | No. 2 Wake Forest | L 65–73 | 12–11 (4–6) | Hearnes Center Columbia, MO |
| February 12 no | at No. 9 Iowa State | L 59–87 | 12–12 (4–7) | Hilton Coliseum Ames, IA |
| February 15 no | Oklahoma | W 80–73 | 13–12 (5–7) | Hearnes Center Columbia, MO |
| February 17 no, ESPN | at No. 1 Kansas Border War | L 67–79 | 13–13 (5–8) | Allen Fieldhouse Lawrence, KS |
| February 22 no | at No. 21 Colorado | L 75–84 | 13–14 (5–9) | Coors Events Center Boulder, CO |
| February 25 no | Texas Tech | L 73–84 | 13–15 (5–10) | Hearnes Center Columbia, MO |
| March 1 no | at Kansas State | L 60–76 | 13–16 (5–11) | Bramlage Coliseum Manhattan, KS |
| March 6* no | vs. Nebraska Big 12 Tournament | W 78–72 | 14–16 | Kemper Arena Kansas City, MO |
| March 7* no | vs. Texas Big 12 Tournament | W 80–75 | 15–16 | Kemper Arena Kansas City, MO |
| March 8* no | vs. Oklahoma Big 12 Tournament | W 89–80 | 16–16 | Kemper Arena Kansas City, MO |
| March 9* no, CBS | vs. No. 1 Kansas Big 12 Tournament | L 60–87 | 16–17 | Kemper Arena Kansas City, MO |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. ||||||
Note: Texas Tech later forfeited its win due to ineligible players.