Florida Gators Down Missouri Tigers in Columbia, 79-67

Florida bested the Missouri Tigers in Columbia, snapping a winless streak on the road during the 2023-24 campaign.

Florida shot 40.9% from beyond the arc, won the rebounding battle by 13 boards and saw five players post double-digit point totals en route to a monumental road victory over Missouri on Saturday, 79-67.

The Gators entered the contest yearning for a victory away from Gainesville after falling to 1-3 in SEC play — and 0-3 in true road games — with an ugly showing against the No. 6 Tennessee Volunteers in Knoxville on Tuesday.

Not even Mizzou guard Tamar Bates' career-best 36 points on the evening could stop UF from casting out their road demons in the form of a 12-point win.

Early efforts were primarily dictated by Missouri's notable desire to play actively on both ends. Holding a high line with concerted on-ball pressure while trapping ball screens defensively, the Tigers were able to force three turnovers from the Gators in the first five minutes.

And while takeaways didn't exactly show up on the state sheet, Dennis Gates' squad's ability to push the floor in transition disrupted Florida's defense to, as a result, produce points. 

It moved UF players out of position defensively. Mizzou accordingly attacked the basket, earning several foul calls. The presence at the charity stripe considerably aided the Tigers in remaining in front for most of the period despite a notable back-and-forth contest.

Florida made up ground from the stripe late in the first period, though, earning nine attempts to the foul line and connecting on six.

The Gators leaned on a well-distributed attack in which six players notched five or more points — led by Walter Clayton Jr.'s nine points on three triples. Missouri, meanwhile, was nearly exclusively supported by Bates' 17 points on 50% from the field in 15 minutes.

Florida carved out a 37-34 lead over Missouri in the back-and-forth affair to carry the three-point margin into the halftime break.

Soon after the action returned, despite the Tigers briefly retaking the lead out of the locker room, the Gators opened their biggest lead of the day on the back of an 8-0 run.

The 1:30 surge from UF was kickstarted by a deep two-point field goal from veteran starting three-and-D wing Will Richard. An early-shot clock layup from Samuel followed. Then, big man Micah Handlogten's effort play — in which he cut off the Mizzou passing lane to get his hand on an entry pass before hitting the floor to retrieve the loose ball and outlet it to Clayton — turned into a three-point field goal from Richard to extend the lead to eight.

Florida began to inch away. 

The lead reached as much as 14 during an extended scoreless streak from the Tigers, highlighted by a near-logo triple from Riley Kugel to give the Gators their first double-digit cushion of the evening. Todd Golden's squad rode the wave of second-half momentum to effectively close the door on Missouri.

Samuel (17), Clayton (15), Richard (13), Pullin (11) and Handlogten (10) each scored in double digits on the night, with the latter posting a double-double as he reeled in 13 boards to catalyze the unit's impressive margin of victory in the rebounding battle.

Florida moves to 12-6 (2-3 SEC), while Missouri drops to 8-10 (0-5 SEC) as a result.

The Gators will return to Gainesville for a two-game homestand as they take on the Mississippi State Bulldogs in matchup one on Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. ET.

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