Kansas City, Mo. (June 16, 2014) – The University of Missouri and Oklahoma State University announced on Monday that the former Big Seven, Big Eight and Big 12 rivals will meet once again on the basketball hardwood on Dec. 30, 2014, at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City. Game time and television information for the game will be announced at a later date.

Meeting for the 119th time in series history, Missouri owns a 77-41 advantage over the Cowboys. The two clubs last met at T-Mobile Center in 2012, with Mizzou grabbing an 88-70 win en route to the 2012 Big 12 Championship. It will mark the 15th meeting all-time in Kansas City between the Tigers and the Cowboys. The first meeting took place on Dec. 29, 1959, with Oklahoma State winning, 64-49, in the Big Eight Holiday Tournament. Overall Missouri owns a 9-5 series advantage in Kansas City.

“In joining the Southeastern Conference two years ago, we talked about our commitment to our fans throughout Missouri, and in particular, our fans in Kansas City,” Mizzou Director of Athletics Mike Alden said. “We have tremendous fan support in this part of the state, and it is critically important to us as a University to have a strong presence in Kansas City.  Athletics gives us an excellent opportunity to build on that presence, and we’re excited to host a major event in Kansas City once again this year. 

Oklahoma State is a terrific program, and we look forward to partnering with them in what will be an exciting game. Mizzou and Oklahoma State have competed 118 times in a series that began in 1926, and this promises to be another exciting game.  We appreciate Mike Holder, Director of Athletics, and Travis Ford on working together with us.  It will be a great event and we hope to see more opportunities for partnerships in which we have a strong history of competition.”

Missouri is under the direction of first-year head coach Kim Anderson, who returns to his alma mater after winning the 2014 NCAA Division II National Championship at the University of Central Missouri. The Sedalia, Mo., native reached three Final Fours at UCM and was named the 2014 NABC National Coach of the Year. As a team, Missouri went 23-12 last season and advanced to the second round of the National Invitation Tournament. The Tigers return two starters in 2014-15, Johnathan Williams, III and Ryan Rosburg, and will welcome in a host of newcomers making their first trip to T-Mobile Center. Williams was one of the country’s top freshmen rebounders, averaging 5.8 points and 6.5 rebounds, while Rosburg made 32 starts and averaged 4.8 points and 4.1 rebounds. Sophomore point guard Wes Clark is also back after averaging 4.1 points and ranking second on the team with 70 assists.

Mizzou last played at T-Mobile Center on Nov. 16, 2013, defeating Hawaii 92-80. The Tigers have won six consecutive games at T-Mobile Center dating back to the 2011-12 season and own an 8-4 record in the facility overall.

“What a special game for the fans and former players of both universities,” Mizzou Head Coach Kim Anderson said. “I remember playing Oklahoma State in Kansas City twice while I was in school and those were two great games. Our two universities share great history with one another and conference affiliation isn’t going to change that fact. Obviously KC is very special to us and plays a major part in who we are as a university and as a basketball program. We have tremendous fans in the city and they know how committed we are to bringing Mizzou Basketball to T-Mobile Center as often as possible.”

Oklahoma State went 21-13 last season and made the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship for a second-straight season. OSU returns three players who started at least 10 games last season, including senior Le'Bryan Nash, a three-time All-Big 12 selection who averaged 13.9 points and 5.5 rebounds per game last season. Also returning is junior Phil Forte, co-winner of the Big 12's inaugural Sixth Man Award a year ago. He is the league's leading returner in both three-point shooting and free-throw shooting. Senior Michael Cobbins, who sat out the second half of last season due to an Achilles' injury, has started 55 games in his career and ranks among the school's top 10 career shot blockers.

"We are looking forward to playing Missouri at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City," OSU head coach Travis Ford said. "Oklahoma State has a long-standing history with the Tigers, having been conference rivals for more than half a century. We've had some thrilling games with Mizzou the past several seasons. It is also exciting to play an early season game in the same venue that hosts the Big 12 Championship. OSU has a lot of alumni and fans in the Kansas City area, and we hope this gives them an opportunity to catch the Cowboys in person. I have a great deal of respect for Coach Kim Anderson, and think he'll continue the great tradition that they have at Missouri."

Missouri leads the series in Kansas City 9-5 overall

Tigers lead the series 1-0 at T-Mobile Center (2012)