What Happened
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Missouri sixth-year guard Caleb Grill scored 22 points off the bench, including six 3-pointers, and the visiting Tigers crashed Exactech Arena/O’Connell Center with an 83-82 defeat of fifth-ranked Florida in their Southeastern Conference game Tuesday night, snapping a 16-home winning streak for the Gators.
Grill hit seven of his 11 shots for the game and six of 10 from deep. He was joined in double-figure scoring by three other Tigers, including Duke transfer Mark Mitchell, who had 15 points and eight rebounds. Both Grill and Mitchell sank a pair of free throws in the final 28.2 seconds to give Mizzou two-possession leads. Mitchell’s two came with five seconds to go for a four-point edge, with UF guard Alijah Martin’s 3-pointer at the buzzer accounting for the final one-point margin.
Florida was led by senior Walter Clayton Jr.’s 28 points. Sophomore center Rueben Chinyelu had 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Twelve of Grill’s points came in a first half when the Tigers shot 64 percent overall and went 7-for-11 from the arc through the first 13 minutes to open a 19-point lead at 42-23. The Gators managed to cut the lead to 10 with just under five minutes to go, but did not score score the rest of the half — turning the ball over four times along the way — allowing the Tigers to go to the locker room with a 50-34 lead.
UF managed to close within five points, at 58-53, on a Chinyelu put-back with 12:18 left, fell back again by 11, but eventually got the margin to just three, on a Clayton 3-pointer with 3:38 to go. Missouri forward Trent Pierce (7 points, 6 rebounds), though, answered with a corner 3 to make it a six-point game with 3:14 remaining. The margin was five when Clayton was fouled attempting a 3 with 2:38 left. Clayton, an 85.4-percent shooter, missed the first two and the Gators had to settle for a four-point deficit. Then Grill hit his sixth 3 of the game to put Mizzou up by seven with 2:20 left.
Martin’s driving floater with 38.5 remaining made it 77-75. UF needed a stop, instead the Gators were called for fouls, and Grill and Mitchell kept the Gators at bay from the line.
Florida shot 48 percent for the game, but Mizzou forced 13 turnovers and converted them into 18 points. The Tigers’ benched outscored the Gators’ 35-9. Missouri shot 44 percent for the game, but just 33 overall and 26 from distance in the second half. The Tigers’ first-half lead, when they made seven of their 11 3-pointers, was too much for the home team to overcome, especially going just 21-for-31 from the free-throw line (67.7 percent) in a one-possession game. Missouri wasn’t much better, though (18 of 29 for 62.1 percent).
What it Means
By metrics, not a horrible loss, as the Tigers began the day No. 34 in the NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET) ratings and already had a win over then-No. 1 Kansas last month, so make that two victories over top-five opponents. Still, Coach Todd Golden and the Gators will be kicking themselves over this one, especially after a miserable first half that as easily their worst 20 minutes of the season. Plus, the game was at home. Teams with championship aspirations have to protect the home floor, especially in this league. And now UF is looking up at Mizzou in the standings (along with a handful of others) and sitting at .500 in SEC play.
In the Spotlight
The Tigers (14-3, 3-1) went 0-18 in SEC play last season. They should have the SEC’s attention now.
Staggering Statistic
The Tigers went the first 18:08 of the game without committing a turnover, while the Gators were giving it away eight times. Mizzou took advantage of UF’s generosity, outscoring them 10-0 in points off turnovers and putting the home team in a big hole.
Up Next
Florida (15-2, 2-2) will be back at home Saturday afternoon to face conference newbie Texas (11-5, 0-3). The Longhorns were in the Top 25 from the start of the 2024-25 and through non-league action, but have start conference play with three losses against top-10 teams, falling at No. 10 Texas A&M, then dropping back-to-back home dates against No. 2 Auburn and No. 1 Tennessee. UT plays at Oklahoma (13-3, 0-3), who also tumbled from No. 12 out of the rankings by losing their first three SEC contests, Wednesday night.
Email senior writer Chris Harry at chrish@gators.ufl.edu
