Mizzou Men's Basketball Roars Back In Final 10 Minutes to Shock Minnesota

Missouri Tigers men's basketball executed a 33-9 run in the final 10 minutes to overcome a 20-point deficit and defeat Minnesota.

Missouri Tigers basketball led Minnesota for just 9.9 seconds of play on Thursday night. 

That was all they needed in their 70-68 victory.

The Tigers had not stepped on the free-throw line for the entire first 35 minutes of play at Williams Arena. That was until Noah Carter took contact on a successful two-point shot, receiving a trip to the line. Carter's free-throw was successful, making the score 65-61, Missouri's smallest deficit up to that point. The tilt of momentum was palpable.

"That last time, that last opportunity, our guys dug a little deep within their spirit and brought us where we needed to go," head coach Dennis Gates said after his team completed the remarkable comeback on the road. 

Three minutes later, a Tamar Bates' free-throw tied the game for the first time all night at 67 each. The Tigers' sideline finally had life after a dejecting night. 

The anger and dejection of the entire team was captured in the tensed face muscles of Caleb Grill after he was ejected for pushing into the shoulder of an official with 12 minutes remaining. Mizzou trailed 50-39 when Grill was tossed. The emotions that had been building all night for the Mizzou bench had reached a boiling point. Grill's fiery exit, however, only provided motivation for the Tigers. As guard Nick Honor said after the game, the team was determined to 'win it for Caleb.'

"Caleb Grill gave us a spark by being ejected," Gates said. "I truly believe that. Without that we don't win the game ... I credit Caleb Grill, his passion that he plays with."

But the Tigers didn't fold. Instead they went on a 33-9 run in the final 11 minutes to overcome the 21-point deficit. 

Missouri did not take the lead until Sean East drove into the paint, tossed a shot over the back of a defender, and watched it fall through the net with nine seconds remaining. The Mizzou bench that was not far removed from being held down by a frustrating night, was now screaming through the wave of emotion that had been building the entire game.

Minnesota held momentum for almost the entirety of the first 30 minutes of play by dominating the boards and sustaining impressive runs, leaving Missouri struggling to keep up. The Gophers out rebounded the Tigers 44-28, and outscored them 8-0 to open the second half to bring their lead to 14. This adversity, Gates believes, is what pushed the Tigers to come back.

"Adversity is adversity and there's no substitute for it at all," Gates said. "It's the single most important thing that's in a persons growth ... You have to put yourself in situations like this to build your identity."

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Guard Nick Honor led the Tigers in scoring with 16 points, while Noah Carter had 13 points and six rebounds. 

Center Connor Vanover saw his first action as a Missouri Tiger in the victory, playing for seven minutes. The Oral-Roberts transfer was suspended for the first three games of the season due to his participation in the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament in April. Though his impact does not jump off the stat sheet, his 7-foot-5 frame was impossible for the Gophers to ignore.

"He had an tremendous impact on the game," Gates said. "I thought his length gave us what we needed." 

Gates mentioned Vanover along with transfer Curt Lewis as well as freshmen Trent Pierce and Anthony Robinson as players who shined in the victory despite facing adversity early in the season. 

The entire team, Gates believes, has begun to form an identity through obstacles. The most significant being a rough 70-55 loss against Memphis last Friday. Following the Tigers' first loss of the season, Gates stated that the question that will define his team's season will be whether or not they're able to turn losses into lessons. Six days after that loss, it certainly seems like Missouri has learned from it's mistakes.

"Without the Memphis game, we don't win in Minnesota," Gates said. "I really do believe that. Things happen for a reason. There's a unique way to add perspective to make sure that you move forward."

The galvanizing win for Missouri pushes the Tigers to 3-1 on the season. They will return home to Mizzou Arena on Sunday to take on Jackson State at 5 p.m.

Connor Vanover: Mizzou Basketball's New 7-Foot-5 Center