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Missouri Stuns No. 22 Florida wiht Late-Game Heroics in SEC Opener
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Missouri delivered a significant upset Saturday night,defeating No. 22 Florida 78-75 in the Southeastern Conference opener for both teams at Mizzou Arena. A clutch, banked-in 3-pointer from point guard Anthony Robinson II with 21 seconds remaining proved to be the decisive blow, handing the Gators their fifth consecutive loss in an SEC opener.
Tigers Overcome Second-Half Deficit
The game was a back-and-forth affair, with Florida building an eight-point lead in the first half and later overcoming a 10-point deficit in the second. the Gators managed to briefly take the lead with a 3-pointer from junior wing Thomas Haugh with 3:35 to play, making the score 65-64. However, a spark from guard Trent Pierce, playing in his first game after a 13-game absence due to a lower body injury, quickly shifted the momentum back in Missouri’s favor.Pierce scored on a third-chance basket and followed it up with a 3-pointer, giving the tigers a four-point advantage with 2:05 left.
Florida battled back to within two points,putting Missouri in a late-clock situation. That’s when Robinson delivered his game-winning shot, a contested 3-pointer from the top of the key that extended the lead to five. A subsequent 3-point play by Haugh narrowed the gap to three with five seconds remaining, but a missed free throw prospect by Missouri’s Mark Mitchell wasn’t enough for Florida to capitalize. A desperation 3-point attempt from sophomore point guard Boogie Fland as time expired fell short, sealing the victory for the Tigers.
Robinson Leads balanced Missouri Attack
Robinson finished with 19 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and two steals, showcasing a well-rounded performance. Mitchell contributed 14 points, while guard Jacob Crews added 13, largely thanks to a near-perfect 9-for-10 performance from the free-throw line. Haugh led Florida with 24 points,and junior forward Alex Condon added 14 points and five rebounds.
Missouri shot 45.5% from the field and matched Florida on the boards (37-37), a key area where the Gators typically excel. Florida struggled from beyond the arc,shooting just 7-for-27 (25.9%) for the game, and a dismal 2-for-15 in the second half. Despite coming into the game with the second-best offensive rebounding rate in the nation, the Gators only managed a slight 13-11 edge on the offensive glass.
Turning Point: First-Half Close and Second-Half Surge
The game’s momentum shifted dramatically in the final four-plus minutes of the first half and the opening minutes of the second. According to observations,the Gators,leading by six inside the five-minute mark of the first period,were outscored 10-4 to close the half. Missouri then capitalized with a six-point run to start the second half, creating a combined 16-4 spurt that swung the game in their favor.
Gators’ SEC Opening Struggles Continue
This loss marks the fifth consecutive SEC opener defeat for Florida. their last victory in an SEC opener came during the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season, a 91-72 win at Vanderbilt on December 29, 2021.
Up Next
Florida (9-5, 0-1) will return to Gainesville for its home SEC opener on Tuesday night against No. 23 Georgia (13-1, 1-0), which defeated Auburn 104-100 in overtime Saturday. the game will also feature a visit from former Florida coach Mike White, now leading the Bulldogs. Missouri will travel to Kentucky for a Wednesday
