Mizzou Basketball Hangs On for Massive Upset Victory Over No. 5 Florida

The conference schedule has been anything but forgiving for the Missouri Tigers this season, already featuring two top-5 ranked opponents, but that's just the SEC this season.

Despite opening SEC play with a loss to No. 1 Auburn, Mizzou has bounced back impressively, winning its next three conference matchups, including a thrilling 83-82 victory over No. 5 Flroida on Tuesday night.

With a 3-1 start in SEC play, good for third place in the conference, and an impressive 14-3 overall record, the Tigers are off to a stellar start.

Florida entered the contest ranked No. 5 nationally and second in the SEC, trailing only Auburn. The Gators were on the brink of extending their impressive 16-game home winning streak, which dated back to last season.

The Gators have been a dominant force throughout the 2024-25 season, steamrolling nearly all opponents in their path. However, something about Mizzou’s matchup with Florida—perhaps their ability to exploit key weaknesses or a desire to "prove it" after being left out of the top-25 rankings once again—propelled the Tigers to an impressive victory.

The game tipped off Tuesday evening in Gainesville, and Mizzou wasted no time getting on the board. Senior Tamar Bates set the tone with a deep three-pointer to open the scoring. The first few minutes saw a back-and-forth battle, but once Bates hit a mid-range jumper to give the Tigers a 9-7 lead with around 16 minutes left in the first half, Mizzou never relinquished control.

The Gators struggled across the board early as Mizzou’s senior leaders, Tamar Bates and Caleb Grill, caught fire. Florida had no answers defensively, as both players consistently hit shots and, when they weren’t scoring from the field, found their way to the free-throw line, converting efficiently from there.

The Tigers finished the first half even stronger than they started, heading into the break with a commanding 50-34 lead. Caleb Grill led the charge with 12 points on an efficient 4-of-5 shooting and added 3 steals. Tamar Bates chipped in 10 points on a solid 4-of-6 performance from the field, helping Mizzou take full control of the game early.

It was positive to see Caleb Grill deliver a performance like this, reminding fans of the high level he’s capable of playing at before missing over a month with a neck injury. Tuesday night marked his best game since returning.

Overall, the first half was arguably Mizzou's best offensive showing of the season. The Tigers shot an impressive 55% from the field, hit 50% of their three-point attempts, and converted 82% of their free throws, putting together an all-around performance.

Defensively, Mizzou was even more impressive. Florida's 34 first-half points marked their second-lowest total in a first half all season. On top of that, the Tigers forced 13 turnovers—a season high for Florida—including six in the opening half, further stifling the Gators' offense and setting the tone for the game.

Defensively, Mizzou was even more impressive. Florida's 34 first-half points marked their second-lowest total in a first half all season. On top of that, the Tigers forced 13 turnovers—a season high for Florida—including six in the opening half, further stifling the Gators' offense and setting the tone for the game.

Walter Clayton Jr. was Florida's lone bright spot in the first half, scoring an impressive 18 points. Meanwhile, Alijah Martin, typically a key contributor, struggled to find his rhythm, managing just 6 points on 2-of-7 shooting.

The second half saw a bit of a drop-off from Grill and the Tigers, as the Gators made noticeable adjustments on both ends of the court. Once Florida found its rhythm, they began chipping away at Mizzou's lead, methodically closing the gap.

Tamar Bates was largely absent offensively in the second half, failing to score and going 0-for-5 from the field, despite playing most of the half. However, he remained active defensively, logging three steals. On offense, Caleb Grill, along with starting forwards Trent Pierce and Mark Mitchell, stepped up to fill the void and keep the Tigers competitive.

Pierce provided a spark, scoring seven points and adding four rebounds. Mitchell contributed nine points and six rebounds, including four offensive boards that led to second-chance points for the Tigers.

Shooting dropped significantly in the second half, with the field goal percentage falling to 33% and three-point shooting sinking to just 27%. Free throw shooting also declined to 50%, with Grill missing two crucial free throws with about two minutes remaining, allowing Florida to stay in the game.

With Mizzou struggling, the Gators' numbers surged in the second half, with shooting climbing above 55% from the field and nearly 39% from beyond the arc. Clayton and Martin combined for 18 points in the half, while Will Richard came alive with 11 points of his own, keeping Florida in the game.

The Tigers struggled down the stretch, failing to score a field goal in the final two and a half minutes. Adding to their challenges, several key players found themselves in foul trouble.

Four players—Anthony Robinson II, Pierce, Mitchell, and Marcus Allen (who picked up four fouls in just eight minutes of play)—finished the game with four fouls, putting themselves at risk of fouling out. Tony Perkins also added a technical foul late in the game.

These fouls sent the Gators to the free throw line multiple times in the final minutes, where they converted the majority of their attempts, making the game much closer than it needed to be.

The Tigers narrowly escaped with an 83-82 upset victory, marking their second win over a top-five ranked program this season, with plenty of games still to come.

Although Mizzou secured the victory, it was a sloppy second half that allowed the opponent back into the game. Halving their shooting numbers while doubling their fouls is not a recipe for closing out any opponent, especially a top-ranked, in-conference team.

As with any win, Gates has plenty to celebrate with this one. Leading the team to such a performance highlights his success in significantly elevating their level of play compared to last season.

Gates, Grill, Bates, and the rest of the program have put NCAA basketball on notice, proving why they deserve to break into the top-25 for the first time in over two years and be taken seriously as a contender in the SEC.

While there’s still room for improvement, the win was a well-executed effort on both sides of the ball. Consistency will be key as the season progresses, with the team now aiming for a four-game conference winning streak when they return home to face the Arkansas Razorbacks on Saturday evening.