Members of the Missouri Tigers celebrating increasing their lead in Tuesday’s win over Florida. (Photo courtesy: Mizzou Athletics)
| NCAA Men’s Basketball | 1 | 2 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri (14-3, 3-1) | 50 | 33 | 83 |
| Florida (15-2, 2-2) | 34 | 48 | 82 |
Cedric Williams
Senior Editor
GAINESVILLE, FL — The University of Missouri men’s basketball team earned its second win over a top-five ranked opponent this season, when it defeated No. 5 Florida, 83-82, in a Southeastern Conference game, Tuesday night at the O’Connell Center.
Missouri got a huge night — 22 points, including six three-pointers — from grad student guard Caleb Grill, who came off the bench and hit four three’s in the first half to help the Tigers build a 50-34 halftime lead.
Then in the second, as Florida mounted a comeback, Grill hit a big-time three-pointer to stop one run, then added two clutch free throws in the final seconds to help put the game away.
Three other Mizzou players scored in double-figures, including Mark Mitchell, who had 15 points and eight rebounds; Anthony Robinson II, who had 12 points; and Tamar Bates, who scored 10 points and added five steals.
Caleb Grill scored 22 points and made six three-pointers in Mizzou’s win over No. 5 Florida on Tuesday. (Photo courtesy: UF Athletics)
The Tigers came out on fire and set the tone that the night would not be a smooth game for the No. 5 Gators. Mizzou made 14 of its first 21 shots and seven of its first 10 3-point attempts to pull in front by 19 points, 42-23. A 13-3 run midway through the period stretched the Missouri advantage from three to 13, 30-17, with the last nine points of the spurt coming from the 3-point shooting of Grill.
The Gators pulled to within 10 after the 19-point MU lead, but Mizzou held the hosts without a point the final 4:32 of the period to go back in front by 16, 50-34, at the half.
Florida, however, would not go away. A 19-8 run to start the second stanza pulled the Gators within five, 58-53, with 12:20 remaining in the game. The Tigers responded with a mini 7-1 run to go back in front by 11, 65-54, only for the Gators to score the next eight points for a three-point game, 65-62.
From there, the Tigers responded every time they needed to. Three times, Florida pulled to within a single possession but the Tigers never allowed Florida to get a shot off with a chance to tie the game.
Josh Gray knocked down two free throws the first time, Robinson added one of his own a second time and Trent Pierce knocked down a triple the final time with 3:14 remaining for a 72-66 lead.
The Gators had two more chances when down two but both times – via Mitchell and Grill – the Tigers made both free throws in the final 30 seconds to go back in front by four, finishing off the top-five win.
Mizzou’s Tony Perkins looks for someone to pass to during the Tigers’ SEC win over Florida on Tuesday. (Photo courtesy: UF Athletics)
The Tigers shot 44.3 percent in the winning effort, including an 11-of-29 performance from 3-point range. Mizzou was also able to turn 13 Florida turnovers into an 18-6 advantage in points off turnovers to grab the edge in transition.
Florida made 48.1 percent of the field goals, while the nation’s top-rebounding team only finished with a slight, 37-36, advantage on the glass.
Mizzou will be back at home on Saturday, when it will host rival Arkansas. Tip off at Mizzou Arena is set for 5 p.m., and the game will be televised nationally on the SEC Network.
Missouri 83
| ## | Player | GS | MIN | FG | 3PT | FT | ORB-DRB | REB | PF | A | TO | BLK | STL | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | Mitchell, Mark | * | 30 | 5-11 | 0-0 | 5-6 | 4-4 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| 00 | Robinson II, Anthony | * | 24 | 4-6 | 2-2 | 2-5 | 1-1 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| 02 | Bates, Tamar | * | 28 | 4-11 | 1-6 | 1-1 | 0-2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 10 |
| 11 | Pierce, Trent | * | 24 | 3-7 | 1-3 | 0-2 | 3-3 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 |
| 12 | Perkins, Tony | * | 18 | 1-6 | 0-3 | 2-3 | 2-1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 31 | Grill, Caleb | 30 | 7-11 | 6-10 | 2-4 | 1-2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 22 | |
| 33 | Gray, Josh | 13 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 4-6 | 1-4 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | |
| 35 | Crews, Jacob | 13 | 2-6 | 1-5 | 0-0 | 1-1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | |
| 04 | Allen, Marcus | 7 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 2-2 | 0-0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| 05 | Barrett, T.O. | 7 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 01 | Warrick, Marques | 3 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 21 | Marshall, Peyton | 3 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| TM | TEAM | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 2-1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Totals | – | 200 | 27-61 | 11-29 | 18-29 | 15-21 | 36 | 24 | 15 | 8 | 1 | 12 | 83 |
Florida 82
| ## | Player | GS | MIN | FG | 3PT | FT | ORB-DRB | REB | PF | A | TO | BLK | STL | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Clayton Jr.,Walter | * | 35 | 9-19 | 3-9 | 7-9 | 0-5 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 28 |
| 15 | Martin,Alijah | * | 34 | 4-10 | 3-7 | 3-4 | 2-2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| 05 | Richard,Will | * | 38 | 4-8 | 3-5 | 1-2 | 1-2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 12 |
| 09 | Chinyelu,Rueben | * | 25 | 4-5 | 0-0 | 3-5 | 4-6 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 11 |
| 21 | Condon,Alex | * | 30 | 3-3 | 0-0 | 2-5 | 0-6 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 8 |
| 10 | Haugh,Thomas | 16 | 1-3 | 0-2 | 5-6 | 4-1 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | |
| 11 | Aberdeen,Denzel | 13 | 1-5 | 0-2 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| 04 | Alexis,Sam | 9 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| TM | TEAM | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 1-1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Totals | – | 200 | 26-54 | 9-25 | 21-31 | 12-25 | 37 | 23 | 9 | 13 | 3 | 5 | 82 |
2024-25 Missouri Tigers Men’s Basketball Schedule
| Date | Time | At | Opponent | Location | TV/Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 4, 2024 (Monday) | 7 p.m. | Away | Memphis | Memphis, Tenn. | L 83-75 (0-1) |
| November 8, 2024 (Friday) | 7 p.m. | Home | Howard | Mizzou Arena | W 77-62 (1-1) |
| November 11, 2024 (Monday) | 6 p.m. | Home | Eastern Washington | Mizzou Arena | W 84-77 (2-1) |
| November 14, 2024 (Thursday) | 6:30 p.m. | Home | Mississippi Valley State | Mizzou Arena | W 111-39 (3-1) |
| November 22, 2024 (Friday) | 6:30 p.m. | Home | Pacific | Mizzou Arena | W 91-56 (4-1) |
| November 24, 2024 (Sunday) | 4 p.m. | Home | Arkansas – Pine Bluff | Mizzou Arena | W 112-63 (5-1) |
| November 27, 2024 (Wednesday) | 5:30 p.m. | Home | Lindenwood | Mizzou Arena | W 81-61 (6-1) |
| December 3, 2024 (Tuesday) | 6 p.m. | Home | California | Mizzou Arena | W 98-93 (7-1) |
| December 8, 2024 (Sunday) | Noon | Home | #1 Kansas | Mizzou Arena | W 76-67 (8-1) |
| December 14, 2024 (Saturday) | 11 a.m. | Home | Long Island | Mizzou Arena | W 88-61 (9-1) |
| December 17, 2024 (Tuesday) | 6:30 p.m. | Home | Jacksonville State | Mizzou Arena | W 83-72 (10-1) |
| December 22, 2024 (Sunday) | Noon | Neutral | Illinois | St. Louis, Mo. / Enterprise Center | L 80-77 (10-2) |
| December 30, 2024 (Monday) | 6:30 p.m. | Alabama State | Mizzou Arena | Mizzou Arena | W 82-65 (11-2) |
| January 4, 2025 (Saturday) | 3 p.m. | Away | #2 Auburn | Auburn, Ala. | L 84-68 (11-3) |
| January 7, 2025 (Tuesday) | 8 p.m. | Home | LSU | Mizzou Arena | W 83-67 (12-3) |
| January 11, 2025 (Saturday) | 2:30 p.m. | Home | Vanderbilt | Mizzou Arena | W 75-66 (13-3) |
| January 14, 2025 (Tuesday) | 8 p.m. | Away | #5 Florida | Gainesville, Fla. | W 83-82 (14-3) |
| January 18, 2025 (Saturday) | 5 p.m. | Home | Arkansas | Mizzou Arena |  |
| January 21, 2025 (Tuesday) | 8 p.m. | Away | Texas | Austin, Texas | |
| January 25, 2025 (Saturday) | 5 p.m. | Home | Ole Miss | Mizzou Arena | |
| February 1, 2025 (Saturday) | Noon | Away | Mississippi State | Starkville, Miss. | |
| February 5, 2025 (Wednesday) | 6 p.m. | Away | Tennessee | Knoxville, Tenn. | |
| February 8, 2025 (Saturday) | 2:30 p.m. | Home | Texas A&M | Mizzou Arena | |
| February 12, 2025 (Wednesday) | 8 p.m. | Home | Oklahoma | Mizzou Arena | |
| February 15, 2025 (Saturday) | 2:30 p.m. | Away | Georgia | Athens, Ga. | |
| February 19, 2025 (Wednesday) | 8 p.m. | Home | Alabama | Mizzou Arena | |
| February 22, 2025 (Saturday) | 7 p.m. | Away | Arkansas | Fayetteville, Ark. | ESPN or ESPN2 |
| February 25, 2025 (Tuesday) | 8 p.m. | Home | South Carolina | Mizzou Arena | ESPN2 or ESPNU |
| March 1, 2025 (Saturday) | 5 p.m. | Away | Vanderbilt | Nashville, Tenn. | |
| March 5, 2025 (Wednesday) | 7 p.m. | Away | Oklahoma | Norman, Okla. |  |
| March 8, 2025 (Saturday) | 11 a.m. | Home | Kentucky | Mizzou Arena | ESPN or SECN |
| March 12-16, 2025 | TBD | Neutral | SEC Tournament | Nashville, Tenn. / Bridgestone Arena | SECN or ESPN |