First half

• Both teams traded blows early, with Mizzou frustrating the Gators. Some bad misses with good looks for the Tigers allowed the Gators to gently make up for their defensive mistakes. Tamar Bates got off to a good start with 5 points as the Tigers lead the U16s 9-7.
• This game should be a blast, Walter Clayton is three points away from his score from the last game and this is only the second TV timeout. Missouri does a great job of coming in and getting to the finish line. Teams with a very stylish post-up game and a clean floater, and the Tigers have really strengthened their defense around the rim. Grill picks up a loose ball and sinks a three-pointer, but Clayton gets an and-one and is one free throw away from matching his point total from last year’s game. 24-17 with 12:06 remaining in the half in favor of Mizzou.
• CALEB. GRILL. He’s hot today as he shoots his third straight three-pointer to start the game. HE BEATS ANOTHER. While he disappears. INCREDIBLE. The lead is 13!
• The threesome is raining heavily, Jacob Crews is in the middle of it right now. The circle appears to be expanding by twofold, as the Tigers are averaging nearly two points per possession. The game is very physical at the moment as both teams have committed a total of 13 fouls with nine minutes left. 35-22 Mizzou with 9:20 left.
• THREE! Anthony Robinson II opened wide from the perimeter to give the Tigers their largest lead of the game at 40-23. Robinson managed a turnaround on the ensuing possession and the Tigers shot an impressive 65% from the field. Florida answers with a three-pointer, but Mizzou is up 42-26!
• Florida responds and all of Mizzou’s progress could be wiped out if they don’t adapt quickly, Clayton hits a one-two punch and the Tigers’ shooting magic appears to be failing. As I say this, Caleb Grill comes on. Incredible feed from Mitchell to Bates as the shot clock winds down for a big basket. Florida answers with a deep three. A questionable foul on Anthony Robinson and it’s 44-34 Mizzou with 4:32 left.
• Thomas Haugh picked up his FOURTH foul of the game with just 4:15 left in the first half, an extremely important frontcourt defenseman for Florida.
• Mark Mitchell with a strong attack on the inside that seemed to have undone Walter Clayton. Grill with a DEEP heat check after a good defensive play, but sloppy ballhandling from Trent Pierce results in it being an empty possession. This time another ball loss from Perkins, only here the ball security is really bad. 46-34 Mizzou with 2:10 remaining in the half.
• INCREDIBLE! Tony Perkins catches the rebound after Anthony Robinson missed a one-and-one in the second leg and fouls it in! Extremely hard sledding considering he had two much bigger guards around him vying for the rebound.
• HALFTIME. The Tigers led 50-34 at halftime after an amazing offensive half and a brilliant defensive performance 4:30 into the final, with the Gators remaining scoreless the entire time. Grill led the Tigers with 12 points and Bates had 10 while Clayton had 18 points.

Second half

• TREEENT PIERCE!? HE HAS A FAMILY. A RIM ROCKER FROM HIM WITH THE FOUL-AND-ONE. This will be seen on many highlights as he silences the crowd in Gainesville. The Mizzou bench must be holding back from excitement. 55-41 Mizzou, 16:20 left in the game.
• Florida’s crowd is on board in this game, constantly sloppy possession on offense as Mizzou has that Gator crowd ready to erupt. SILENCER! Anthony Robinson on defense needs to score three points. 58-46 Mizzou at U16 timeout.
• The Gators made a three-pointer after a weak Mizzou defensive rebound that led to a completely open look. Florida hits another basket and the lead is reduced to seven. Gates takes a timeout and the score is 58-51 with 12:50 left.
• Mitchell finally answers, penetrating after the Gators cut the lead to five. This is a very dangerous area for the Tigers right now. Grill with a drive on the ensuing possession and the lead is back to nine for Mizzou. However, the Tigers are once again in foul trouble as they committed six fouls with 11:05 left, 62-53 Mizzou.
• Walter Clayton went into the tunnel during the TV timeout but is back on the bench, something to watch out for. Could be the thing he got from Mitchell at the start of the game. Mizzou gets another foul and Florida now has almost 11 minutes in the bonus, the Tigers now have to be cleaner as Allen and Robinson have committed four fouls.
• JACOB CREWS. What a great hustle, this team is feeding off each other right now. I’m constantly dominating the offense right now and this is one of the best rebounds this team has had all season. Two fouls on two consecutive possessions for Mizzou, and that foul disparity has all but disappeared.
• Two flagrant fouls on Tony Perkins for hitting Alijah Martin in a… worrisome area. The foul means the ball is handed over to Florida and they also get free throws, which is a big turning point in this game. Tony Perkins is now ejected from the game.
• Mark Mitchell has now picked up his fourth foul while defensive rebounding. “There really doesn’t seem to be a foul on this play,” smiles Dennis Gates in response as the Gators collect the rebound on a one-and-one and hit a three-pointer. Thomas Haugh was just fouled out of the game after scoring four goals very early when he fouled Grill while fighting for a rebound. It seems like many players can’t survive this game.
• Oh my god, this is crazy. The foul was reversed and the foul goes to Grill and Florida keeps the ball WITH two free throws. Dennis Gates will NOT like this.
• Pierce misses a dunk after a nice push from Mitchell, but is fouled on the offensive rebound and has a chance to give Mizzou a six-point lead. This game got close here, but Florida couldn’t take the lead the crowd so desperately craves. Pierce misses the front end of the one-and-one. What fodder from Barrett. Checks into the game like Perkins normally would and drives to Mark Mitchell and sets it up. Florida responds with a basket of its own, making it 70-66 Mizzou with 4:45 left.
• Tamar Bates with a beautiful steal after a pass from Pierce, he serves Pierce, who hits the flush. Clayton hits a three-pointer and it’s a one-possession game again. TRENT PIERCE. He hits a three-pointer and the lead is back to six, but another questionable foul leads to, you guessed it, two more shots for the Gators. 75-69 Mizzou with 3:08 remaining in this exciting matchup.
• Joshua Gray is human as he misses two free throws when the game is empty. Condon’s hand was on the edge during his dunk attempt, it could have been a goalie. Walter Clayton is fouled on a three-point attempt and isn’t even touched. Not a bit of contact. Ball isn’t lying as Clayton misses two shots, but it’s still frustrating. 75-71 Mizzou with 2:38 remaining.
• CALEB. GRILL. The incredible three-point shot fades and he extends the lead to seven, but Florida quickly gets a two-pointer the other way. Mark Mitchell is fouled on the ensuing possession and has a chance to give Mizzou the seven-point lead back. Mitchell misses the first and hits the second. 79-73 Tigers with 1:49 remaining.
• Rueben Chinyelu picks up his fifth foul of the game after keeping Caleb Grill away from a ball screen outside of play. To the dismay of the Florida crowd, who I don’t think saw this game. Grill misses both big free throws. Grill is playing great on defense and believes this has been fatal to a Gator player and that there will be a review. This seems a little outside of grill, but it’s still very close.
• Big break for Florida as Mizzou had two guys in perfect position for the rebound, but the ball went past both of them and out of bounds. Alijah Martin hits a floater and the score is 79-77. 38.5 seconds left, 30 seconds on the shot clock. A crucial possession is coming up for the Tigers.
• Exhale. Caleb Grill makes a bad pass against the entire field, Dennis Gates takes an amazing timeout to avoid a 10-second violation. 29 seconds left, 20 seconds on the shot clock.
• Mark Mitchell is intentionally fouled and makes the most free throws of the season. Missouri is 5-14 from the free throw line this half. You’d think if he hits those two it’s game over. Mitchell hits the first and the second rolls in. CLUTCH FROM DUKE TRANSFER.
• An amazing defensive effort from TO Barrett as freshman Walter Clayton Jr. chokes out and results in the clock being cut to 11 seconds left. Mizzou leads 81-77. 12.4 left in the game, Gatorball.
• Condon puts the ball in with six seconds left and Caleb Grill is fouled. He can annihilate the Gators with two shots here after missing two previously. Grill hits first and BURIES hits second. His 22nd point of the game, what a game for the captain.
• BALL GAME. Mizzou gives Florida an open three-pointer, but it’s meaningless as the Tigers win a marathon 83-82. It’s the Tigers’ second top-five win of the season and they are now 3-1 in SEC play. After two hours and 40 minutes it’s over.

Pre-game updates

Game information

When: 8:00 p.m. CST

Where: Stephen C. O’Connell Center; Gainesville, Florida.

TV: ESPNU | SEC Network+

Radio | Tiger Radio Network // Sirius/XM -119/199

Twitter | @MizzouHoops

Distribution: FLA -10.5

Probability of winning: FLA 80.8%

Read the preview

5 fan questions

1. Will Mizzou be able to contain Walter Clayton Jr. tonight after he posted his third-worst scoring output in the SEC against Mizzou last season?
2. Will Mizzou be able to force more than 12 turnovers?
3. How quickly will Mizzou be in the bonus in both halves?
4. Who will be Mizzou’s leading scorer tonight?
5. What is your prediction for the score?