Missouri basketball continues to bolster its non-conference schedule with another challenging road matchup, as the Tigers are finalizing an agreement to face Indiana on December 18 in Bloomington, according to multiple reports.
The one-time contest at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall will not include a return game in Columbia, marking a straightforward home-and-home avoidance in favor of a single high-profile neutral-site style road game for the Tigers. No official announcement has been made yet, but the deal appears close to completion.
For head coach Dennis Gates, entering his fifth season in Columbia, this matchup fits the program’s recent philosophy of seeking quality opponents away from home to prepare for the rigors of Southeastern Conference play. Mizzou’s non-conference slate already features intriguing dates against Saint Louis, Marquette, Pittsburgh, Kansas, and Nebraska. A trip to Assembly Hall against the Hoosiers adds another Big Ten heavyweight to the mix.
Indiana, under second-year head coach Darian DeVries, is looking to rebound from a season that ended outside the NCAA Tournament. Hosting Missouri provides the Hoosiers an opportunity to build early-season momentum in a venue that has traditionally been difficult for visitors. The game falls on a Friday night, likely drawing a strong crowd in Bloomington as conference play looms for both programs.
The all-time series between Missouri and Indiana stands even at 9-9. The Tigers have claimed the last three meetings, with victories in 2000, 2003, and 2004. A trip back to Bloomington would mark Missouri’s first game against the Hoosiers since those early-2000s encounters.
This news arrives as Gates and his staff continue finalizing the 2026-27 schedule. With several key pieces returning and incoming talent on the way, the Tigers are positioning themselves for another competitive campaign. A December showdown in Bloomington offers an early-season barometer against a historically strong program and should provide valuable lessons as Missouri eyes another push toward the NCAA Tournament.
