Gators’ comeback thwarted as Mizzou wins in Gainesville

GAINESVILLE — Dru Smith scored the game-winner, banking a baseline drive reverse layup off the glass with 0.7 seconds on the clock and Missouri held on to defeat Florida 72-70 on Wednesday night for the Tigers’ first-ever win in Gainesville.

“Great execution by Missouri out of the timeout,” Gators coach Mike White said. “They got it to Dru Smith on the wing and we didn’t handle that ball screen situation very well. [We] got beat to his strong hand, allowed the ball-screen reject, and then we had a couple guys swarming to the basketball, trying to make plays from the help side.

“I thought it looked like one of those guys might be able to get a hand on it, but he had a great finish. Credit those guys.”

Florida had been 4-0 against Missouri at home and had made up a 10-point gap by fighting through the entire second half to close on an 8-0 run and tie at 70-70 with 18 seconds left.

Smith scored 17 points and had nine assists and a season-high six steals to lead Missouri (15-7, 8-7 Southeastern Conference). Mitchell Smith scored 14 points, as did Xavier Pinson, who hit four 3-pointers. Jeremiah Tilmon added 12 points and Mark Smith scored 11.

Tilmon’s fifth foul sent Florida’s Colin Castleton to the line, where he sank the tying free throws. Castleton scored 10 points, all in the second half, for the Gators (13-7, 9-6), making 4 of 4 at the line.

Tre Mann scored 21 points to lead Florida, Tyree Appleby added 12 with five assists and Noah Locke scored 11. The Gators committed 18 turnovers, leading to 25 Mizzou points and saw a three-game win streak end.

Missouri led 36-29 at the half, taking the lead on a Dru Smith jumper and closing the half on a 15-4 run. Mitchell Smith pushed the Tigers’ lead to 10, opening the second half with a 3-pointer.

The Gators chomped that lead down to 49-47 on an Appleby 3-pointer midway through the second half and stayed within five or six points the rest of the way as the teams traded scores.

Florida finally got back-to-back baskets when Anthony Duruji dunked and Mizzou turned the ball over with a bad pass, resulting in a Locke layup, making the score 58-57.