The No. 4 Florida Gators defeated the No. 21 Missouri Tigers 95-81 in the Southeastern Conference Tournament quarterfinals, with Walter Clayton Jr leading the Gators with 18 points. Florida shot 62% from the floor and will advance to the semifinals. Missouri’s leading scorer, Mark Mitchell, did not play, and the Tigers were unable to close the gap despite a strong effort.
Florida started strong with a 10-0 run and maintained a lead throughout the game. Missouri forced turnovers and scored off of them to stay in the game, but ultimately fell short. The Gators will face either Alabama or Kentucky in the semifinals, while the Tigers will wait for their next opponent to be determined on Selection Sunday.
The Gators avenged their only home loss of the season, a close defeat to Missouri in January. The absence of Mitchell impacted the Tigers’ performance, as they struggled to keep up with Florida’s offensive firepower. The key moment in the game was a dunk by Alijah Martin that gave the Gators a 10-point lead in the second half.
Overall, Florida’s balanced scoring and efficient shooting proved to be too much for Missouri to overcome. The Gators will look to carry their momentum into the semifinals, while the Tigers will regroup and prepare for the NCAA Tournament.
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