MEMPHIS, Tenn. — New season, same show.

Missouri basketball squandered a once-14-point lead and lost its season-opener against Memphis 83-75 on Monday evening at FedEx Forum, as the home team rallied in the second half behind a half-court press that Mizzou couldn’t shake, some questionable Missouri rotations and plenty of time spent at the free-throw line.

The loss gives MU its 20th straight loss dating back to last season. Mizzou still has not won this calendar year.

Dennis Gates’ Tigers opened up a double-digit first half lead behind a stellar showing from forwards Trent Pierce and Aidan Shaw, who combined for 19 points as Mizzou took a 10-point lead into the break.

Mizzou fully squandered a once-14-point lead by the mid-point of the second half, as Memphis guard Tyrese Hunter dropped a 3 from the elbow to complete a 9-0 run and give the home team its first lead since the midpoint of the first half.

By the time Memphis had flipped the score and taken a four-point lead with eight minutes to play, Shaw and Pierce had combined for two minutes in the second half, and they were not on the court together again until there was 6:39 left to play in the game.

As the minutes ticked away, Memphis kept creating turnovers and forcing Missouri into mistakes.

The first half looked almost nothing like that.

Missouri was giving Memphis all kinds of problems with an aggressive, disruptive defense and a lightning quick fast-break offense in the first half. Anthony Robinson II was a bright spot with 16 points, seven assists and three steals in his start at point guard.

But, as was the case so many times last season, the good runs didn’t last.

Memphis was running a half-court press that Mizzou was struggling to break, and the aggressive, disruptive defense that gave MU 12 first-half fast break points completely disappeared.

Guard PJ Haggerty came alive with 25 points, 22 of which coming after the half. Memphis went 17-of-20 from the free throw line in the second half. Mizzou was 16-of-25 from the line across the game.

Missouri basketball at Memphis score updates

This section will be updated when the game begins.

Second-half updates from Missouri basketball at Memphis

9:17 p.m.: Game. Memphis opens up an 11-point lead with 1:41 to play on a driving Tyrese Hunter layup, and that ought to be that.

9:11 p.m.: Missouri isn't going away, as Trent Pierce fights for a hard-earned layup. But time is not on MU's side. Seven-point deficit, 2:35 to go.

9:05 p.m.: Back-to-back Mark Mitchell giveaways turn into four Memphis points. 71-62 home team, and this one is just about out of sight.

8:52 p.m.: Under-8 timeout, Memphis 62, Missouri 59. The home team has completely flipped the script here. I simply cannot find a way to explain this, but Aidan Shaw and Trent Pierce, who combined for 19 points in the first half, have combined for just two minutes of court time in the second half. Pierce has not yet played after the half. Bizarre.

8:41 p.m.: Memphis is on a 9-0 run and now leads 56-55. The tide has fully turned in the home team's arena, and the crowd is on its feet and extremely loud. Missouri looking fully without composure.

8:29 p.m.: Memphis has made each of its last four attempts from the field and PJ Haggerty just went 2-of-2 at the line to cut the Missouri lead to 53-47.

8:28 p.m.: Memphis just picked up its fifth team foul of the half with 13:42 to go. This one trending toward being decided at the line.

8:22 p.m.: Under-16 timeout, and we've got some bad news. Missouri has already picked up six fouls as a team. Mizzou leads by nine points with 15:31 to go, but foul trouble could make this nervy down the stretch.

8:14 p.m.: After opening MU's second-half account with a layup, Anthony Robinson picks out Tamar Bates wide open in the corner for an easy-as-you-like 3. Mizzou leads by 11 points.

First-half updates from Missouri basketball at Memphis

8:08 p.m.: The stats have, at long last, updated. Trent Pierce with 10 first-half points. Aidan Shaw has 9. Missouri has 12 fast-break points to Memphis' 2. Memphis has turned the ball over eight times to Missouri's three.

8:01 p.m.: Half: Missouri 42, Memphis 32. The stats are not working in the arena here. We'll update what we have when we have them. But, for now, what a start to the season for Mizzou. The Tigers look long and disruptive on defense. Memphis is really struggling to put meaningful runs together as Mizzou keeps turning it over and hitting it on effective fast-breaks. This looks a lot more like Mizzou in Year 1 of Gates' tenure.

7:43 p.m.: Trent Pierce is having a career-day so far. The sophomore has been stepping into transition 3s and making them with ease; he just pump-faked a defender and showed some deft touch to put it away. Missouri leads 38-25 with four minutes remaining in the first half. This ain't last year's Tigers.

7:39 p.m.: Anthony Robinson II got a technical foul for making a comment to the Memphis bench after his 3, apparently.

7:38 p.m.: Missouri's offense is awake. Trent Pierce drains a 3. Anthony Robinson follows suit. Mizzou has a 10-point lead on the road.

7:34 p.m.: Goodness. Aidan Shaw block. Trent Pierce with an absolutely nasty dunk. Mizzou 23, Memphis 16 — 7:50 left in first half. It's early, but this Missouri team looks wildly more comeptitive.

7:32 p.m.: It really is a new season. Aidan Shaw just made a 3. He did not do that one single time last season.

7:25 p.m.: Under-12 media timeout: Missouri 9, Memphis 7. Mizzou is showing some good length on defense and much better ability getting balls off the boards. And they're drawing fouls? Lotta things MU wasn't good at last year have shown encouraging signs so far. Both teams still struggling from the field, but a good start on the road for Gates' team.

7:20 p.m.: Incredibly slow start offensively for both teams. Game is tied at 5 and they are shooting a combined 4-of-16 from the field.

7:12 p.m.: Under-16 media timeout: Mizzou 5, Memphis 4. Tony Perkins has checked into the game for MU. Tamar Bates 3 has given Missouri the lead, but MU is 1-of-6 as a team from deep in the early going.

7:10 p.m.: Tony Perkins has checked into the game for Mizzou. Memphis leads 4-2 as both teams have struggled from behind the arc in the opening few minutes. Mark Mitchell has his first points as a Mizzou player.

7:04 p.m.: Mizzou wins the tip, and Missouri's 2024-25 season is underway.

Pregame updates from Missouri at Memphis

6:57 p.m.: The countdown has hit zero. Any moment now, Missouri and Memphis will tip off and begin their respective 2024-25 campaigns. Let's see if MU can turn a page on last season quickly.

6:55 p.m.: From Missouri's starting lineup, we're guessing transfer point guard Tony Perkins isn't quite ready to go. Surprised no late word has come from the team regarding that, which maybe means we'll see the All-Big Ten PG in Memphis. But, it's going to be sophomore Anthony Robinson II running the point to start at FedEx Forum. There's a lot of room for improvement from his rookie season, but his upside, specifically defensively, is high.

6:53 p.m.: Starting for Memphis:

G Colby Rogers; G PJ Haggerty; G Tyrese Hunter; F Nicholas Jourdain; F Dain Dainja

6:45 p.m.: Missouri has its first starting lineup of the season posted:

- G Anthony Robinson II; G Tamar Bates; G Caleb Grill; F Mark Mitchell; C Josh Gray

6:38 p.m.: There are about 20 minutes remaining until Mizzou takes on Memphis, and the players are getting in some final reps before heading to the locker room for one final time. Missouri's 2024-25 season is nearly underway. Starters should be posted soon.

5:57 p.m.: Next: Missouri transfer point guard Tony Perkins was warming up on the court and was one of the first players out of the locker room. Dennis Gates did not definitively say he would be available when asked last week, so that's seemingly a good sign for MU.

In other availability news, Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports is reporting that 7-foot-5 MU freshman Trent Burns will not be available tonight due to illness.

5:55 p.m.: Good evening from FedEx Forum. Already a couple updates worth nothing: Memphis guard and Texas transfer Tyreek Smith has entered the transfer portal. Yes, four hours before the season began. The move is over an alleged NIL dispute, and he will not play against Missouri.

What time does Missouri at Memphis begin?

• Date:  Monday, Nov. 4

• Time:  7 p.m. CDT

• Location: FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tenn.

What channel is Missouri at Memphis on?

• TV channel:  NA

• Streaming: ESPN+ 

• Radio:  Sirius XM 988

Missouri’s game will stream live on ESPN+. Greg Gaston will be the play-by-play announcer for the game, and Trey Draper will be the on-air analyst.

Missouri at Memphis predictions

Two new-look rosters will face off Monday in Memphis, where Mizzou is looking for its first win this calendar year. We say Missouri gets the job done for a good-feel start to the 2024-25 season after a horrid last campaign.

More: Bold predictions for Missouri basketball in 2024-25 season. Season, player projections

Missouri injury and availability updates

Missouri transfer point guard Tony Perkins missed the team's exhibition against Lincoln on Oct. 26, and although Gates said he's been practicing, the coach was vague about whether Perkins would play against Memphis.

"Tony Perkins has been practicing, and I'm excited about what he's been able to do," Gates said. "So, for me, he's had a great week of practice."

Missouri basketball full 2024-25 season schedule

Home games are listed in bold.

Neutral-site game listed with an asterisk (*).

All times listed in CDT.

Missouri basketball team news

More: ‘Christmas Eve’: Missouri basketballI returns Monday at Memphis, but how fast can MU compete?

More: Who will play for Missouri basketball this season? Guessing Mizzou’s rotation in 2024-25

More: Key dates, opponents to know on Missouri basketball’s 2024-25 season schedule

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This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Missouri basketball final score: Mizzou drops opener at Memphis