How to Watch Braggin’ Rights 2025 (Illinois vs. Missouri)
Game Time: 7 p.m. Monday
TV Channel: FS1
Online Streaming: FoxSportsGO
Odds: N/A (Illinois 68% Chance To Win – ESPN Matchup Predictor)
Quick Hits:
Illinois Fighting Illini (8-3, 1-1 Big Ten)
Head Coach: Brad Underwood (9th season)
Last Game: Nebraska 83, Illinois 80
Gameday Reading:
Missouri Tigers (10-2, 0-0 SEC)
Head Coach: Dennis Gates (4th season)
Last Game: Missouri 82, Bethune 60
What Happened the Last Time These Two Teams Played?
- Illinois leads the all-time Braggin’ Rights series 35-20.
Dec. 22, 2024: Illinois 80, Missouri 77
ST. LOUIS — Time to brag.
In a physical, emotion-filled battle in the annual Braggin’ Rights game, Illinois outlasted Missouri 80-77 in its second consecutive game that came down to the final buzzer.
This time,
it was the Illini who came out on the winning side. A Kasparas Jakucionis turnaround jumper with 28 seconds left turned into the game-winner after a Jacob Crews game-tying three-point attempt hit back iron as the final buzzer sounded.
The trophy — and the bragging rights — will reside in Champaign for a second straight year.
Despite there being only five combined returners between the two sides from last year’s Braggin’ Rights meeting — including just one for the Illini — the lively split St. Louis crowd was treated to a 40-minute battle that certainly felt like a rivalry. The two sides traded blows all afternoon in a game that featured a lot of fouling, quite a bit of intensity and even a few postgame words exchanged.
Missouri (10-2) frustrated the Illini at times with their zone look in the halfcourt, taking advantage of 17 Illinois turnovers to put themselves within striking distance of revenge from a year ago. But Illinois (8-3) largely dominated on the glass and used a stellar free throw shooting display to cling hold to the very slim difference in the end.
The classic “game of runs” adage held true in this one as both teams went on multiple first half scoring runs in what quickly turned into a back-and-forth affair. The two teams traded 9-0 and 8-0 runs late in the first half, with a quick five-point burst to close the half edging the Illini out in front at the break.
The key run that put things up for grabs until the final moment came late in the second half, though. Just as it seemed like the Illini were on the brink of pulling away after a pair of Kylan Boswell free throws extended their lead to double digits, a lightning quick 11-0 rally by the Tigers in just two minutes stormed Missouri back in front for the first time since the first half with 4:13 remaining.
