Walter Clayton Jr. scores 18 as No. 4 Florida beats Missouri 95-81 to reach SEC semifinal
AP
Mar 15, 2025
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Walter Clayton Jr scored 18 points, Will Richard and Alijah Martin added 17 apiece and the No. 4 Florida Gators defeated the No. 21 Missouri Tigers 95-81 in the Southeastern Conference Tournament quarterfinals Friday night.
The second-seeded Gators (28-4) never trailed and advance to the semifinals on Saturday against fifth-ranked Alabama, a 99-70 winner over Kentucky. Florida shot 62% from the floor, including 38% from 3-point range.
Tamar Bates scored 16 points to lead the seventh-seeded Tigers (22-11). Bates was Missouri’s high scorer in both of its SEC Tournament games. Anthony Robinson II and Tony Perkins each scored 13.
Florida began the game with a 10-0 run and held a 50-37 lead at the half.
Missouri junior and leading scorer Mark Mitchell did not play with coach Dennis Gates electing to hold him out to rest a knee injury and be ready for the NCAA Tournament. Mitchell had seven points in 12 minutes played in Thursday’s victory over tenth-ranked Mississippi St.
Missouri: Playing without Mitchell, the Tigers fell behind early and hung fairly closely with Florida but could only draw as close as four in the second half before the Gators put the game out of reach.
Florida: The Gators lost the only regular season matchup against Missouri 83-82 on Jan. 14 in Gainesville, Florida’s only home loss this season.
With 9:01 remaining in the second half, Martin gave Florida a 10-point lead on a dunk off of a long pass from Richard.
Missouri kept the game close largely in part to forcing 16 Florida turnovers and scoring 22 points off of those turnovers.
The Gators have a chance to beat Alabama a second time, this with a berth in the championship game on the line. The Tigers wait to learn their next opponent on Selection Sunday.
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1st Half
MIZZ
Tigers
37
FLA
Gators
50
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
(Gators gains possession)
19:44
Walter Clayton Jr. misses two point jump shot
19:42
Gators offensive rebound
19:30
+3
Will Richard makes three point jump shot (Walter Clayton Jr. assists)
0-3
19:13
Josh Gray turnover (Walter Clayton Jr. steals)
19:13
Josh Gray flagrant 1
19:13
+1
Walter Clayton Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2
0-4
19:13
+1
Walter Clayton Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2
0-5
18:55
+3
Will Richard makes three point jump shot
0-8
18:38
Tamar Bates turnover
18:27
+2
Will Richard makes two point jump shot
0-10
18:25
Tigers 30 second timeout
18:08
Tamar Bates misses two point dunk
18:06
Rueben Chinyelu defensive rebound
17:59
Rueben Chinyelu turnover
17:48
Trent Pierce misses three point jump shot
17:46
Tigers offensive rebound
17:26
Tamar Bates misses three point jump shot
17:24
Tigers offensive rebound
17:24
Will Richard personal foul
17:14
+2
Trent Pierce makes two point dunk (Tony Perkins assists)
2-10
17:14
Rueben Chinyelu shooting foul (Trent Pierce draws the foul)
17:14
Trent Pierce misses regular free throw 1 of 1
17:14
Will Richard defensive rebound
16:57
+3
Alijah Martin makes three point jump shot
2-13
16:40
Aidan Shaw misses two point layup
16:38
Rueben Chinyelu defensive rebound
16:38
Trent Pierce personal foul
16:20
+2
Rueben Chinyelu makes two point layup (Alijah Martin assists)
2-15
16:08
+2
Tony Perkins makes two point layup (Tamar Bates assists)
4-15
15:58
Alex Condon turnover (Aidan Shaw steals)
15:52
+2
Trent Pierce makes two point layup (Caleb Grill assists)
6-15
15:25
Will Richard misses two point layup
15:23
Trent Pierce defensive rebound
15:23
Jump ball. (Tigers gains possession)
15:23
TV timeout
15:06
Denzel Aberdeen shooting foul (Tony Perkins draws the foul)
15:06
Tony Perkins misses regular free throw 1 of 1
15:06
+1
Tony Perkins makes regular free throw 2 of 2
7-15
14:50
+2
Denzel Aberdeen makes two point jump shot
7-17
14:32
+2
Tony Perkins makes two point layup
9-17
14:16
Will Richard turnover
13:47
Walter Clayton Jr. blocks Jacob Crews's three point jump shot
13:45
Tigers offensive rebound
13:45
Tigers turnover (shot clock violation)
13:32
+3
Walter Clayton Jr. makes three point jump shot
9-20
13:04
Caleb Grill misses three point jump shot
13:02
Josh Gray offensive rebound
12:51
Denzel Aberdeen personal foul
12:44
Micah Handlogten blocks Trent Pierce's two point layup
12:42
Jacob Crews offensive rebound
12:35
+2
Jacob Crews makes two point layup
11-20
12:21
Anthony Robinson II personal foul
12:06
Trent Pierce shooting foul (Thomas Haugh draws the foul)
12:06
+1
Thomas Haugh makes regular free throw 1 of 2
11-21
12:06
+1
Thomas Haugh makes regular free throw 2 of 2
11-22
11:54
Anthony Robinson II turnover (Micah Handlogten steals)
11:46
+3
Walter Clayton Jr. makes three point jump shot (Urban Klavzar assists)
11-25
11:31
Micah Handlogten blocks Tamar Bates's two point layup
11:29
Micah Handlogten defensive rebound
11:22
Alijah Martin misses three point jump shot
11:20
Josh Gray defensive rebound
11:12
+2
Tamar Bates makes two point layup
13-25
11:05
+2
Walter Clayton Jr. makes two point layup
13-27
11:03
Tigers 30 second timeout
11:03
TV timeout
10:36
+3
Marques Warrick makes three point jump shot (Anthony Robinson II assists)
16-27
10:26
Rueben Chinyelu turnover (Marques Warrick steals)
10:21
Denzel Aberdeen shooting foul (Marques Warrick draws the foul)
10:21
Marques Warrick misses regular free throw 1 of 2
10:21
+1
Marques Warrick makes regular free throw 2 of 2
17-27
10:03
Aidan Shaw personal foul
10:00
Urban Klavzar misses three point jump shot
9:58
Alex Condon offensive rebound
9:54
Urban Klavzar turnover
9:38
+3
Tamar Bates makes three point jump shot
20-27
9:22
Peyton Marshall personal foul
9:13
Walter Clayton Jr. turnover
9:00
+2
Peyton Marshall makes two point jump shot (Marques Warrick assists)
22-27
8:52
Peyton Marshall personal foul (Alex Condon draws the foul)
8:52
+1
Alex Condon makes regular free throw 1 of 2
22-28
8:52
Alex Condon misses regular free throw 2 of 2
8:52
T.O. Barrett defensive rebound
8:42
Alex Condon blocks Tamar Bates's two point layup
8:40
Tigers offensive rebound
8:34
T.O. Barrett misses two point layup
8:32
Alex Condon defensive rebound
8:27
Walter Clayton Jr. turnover (Caleb Grill steals)
8:21
+2
Caleb Grill makes two point dunk
24-28
8:15
+2
Thomas Haugh makes two point dunk (Alijah Martin assists)
24-30
8:05
Tamar Bates misses three point jump shot
8:03
Peyton Marshall offensive rebound
7:59
Alex Condon blocks Peyton Marshall's two point layup
7:57
Thomas Haugh defensive rebound
7:45
Alex Condon turnover (T.O. Barrett steals)
7:37
Caleb Grill misses three point jump shot
7:35
Tamar Bates offensive rebound
7:29
Tamar Bates misses three point jump shot
7:27
Walter Clayton Jr. defensive rebound
7:22
+3
Will Richard makes three point jump shot (Walter Clayton Jr. assists)
24-33
7:21
Gators 30 second timeout
7:21
TV timeout
6:53
+2
T.O. Barrett makes two point jump shot
26-33
6:39
Alijah Martin misses three point jump shot
6:35
Tigers defensive rebound
6:16
Alijah Martin personal foul
6:00
Jacob Crews misses two point jump shot
5:58
Alijah Martin defensive rebound
5:53
+2
Thomas Haugh makes two point layup (Walter Clayton Jr. assists)
26-35
5:53
Jacob Crews shooting foul (Thomas Haugh draws the foul)
5:53
Thomas Haugh misses regular free throw 1 of 1
5:53
T.O. Barrett defensive rebound
5:36
Peyton Marshall turnover (Will Richard steals)
5:31
+2
Walter Clayton Jr. makes two point dunk (Thomas Haugh assists)
26-37
5:02
Caleb Grill misses two point jump shot
5:00
Josh Gray offensive rebound
5:00
Micah Handlogten personal foul (Josh Gray draws the foul)
5:00
+1
Josh Gray makes regular free throw 1 of 2
27-37
5:00
+1
Josh Gray makes regular free throw 2 of 2
28-37
4:53
Thomas Haugh turnover (Josh Gray steals)
4:48
Josh Gray misses two point layup
4:46
Thomas Haugh defensive rebound
4:40
Will Richard misses two point layup
4:38
Micah Handlogten offensive rebound
4:32
+2
Micah Handlogten makes two point layup
28-39
4:26
+2
Anthony Robinson II makes two point layup
30-39
4:05
+2
Alijah Martin makes two point layup (Walter Clayton Jr. assists)
30-41
3:53
Anthony Robinson II turnover (Thomas Haugh steals)
3:53
TV timeout
3:33
Will Richard misses three point jump shot
3:31
Tony Perkins defensive rebound
3:23
+2
Tamar Bates makes two point layup (Anthony Robinson II assists)
32-41
3:10
Will Richard misses three point jump shot
3:08
Caleb Grill defensive rebound
2:59
Caleb Grill misses two point layup
2:57
Alex Condon defensive rebound
2:53
Will Richard turnover
2:42
Anthony Robinson II misses three point jump shot
2:40
Walter Clayton Jr. defensive rebound
2:32
+2
Walter Clayton Jr. makes two point jump shot
32-43
2:09
+2
Tamar Bates makes two point layup
34-43
1:54
+3
Walter Clayton Jr. makes three point jump shot
34-46
1:32
Tamar Bates turnover (Walter Clayton Jr. steals)
1:25
Josh Gray shooting foul (Will Richard draws the foul)
1:25
+1
Will Richard makes regular free throw 1 of 2
34-47
1:25
+1
Will Richard makes regular free throw 2 of 2
34-48
1:15
+2
Anthony Robinson II makes two point layup
36-48
1:15
Urban Klavzar shooting foul (Anthony Robinson II draws the foul)
1:15
+1
Anthony Robinson II makes regular free throw 1 of 1
37-48
0:58
Alex Condon misses three point jump shot
0:56
Anthony Robinson II defensive rebound
0:47
Caleb Grill misses three point jump shot
0:45
Alex Condon defensive rebound
0:37
Anthony Robinson II personal foul
0:37
+1
Thomas Haugh makes regular free throw 1 of 2
37-49
0:37
+1
Thomas Haugh makes regular free throw 2 of 2
37-50
0:14
Anthony Robinson II turnover
0:03
Walter Clayton Jr. misses three point jump shot
0:01
Tigers defensive rebound
0:00
End of period
2nd Half
MIZZ
Tigers
44
FLA
Gators
45
Time
Team
Play
Score
19:52
Alex Condon misses two point layup
19:50
Trent Pierce defensive rebound
19:43
Trent Pierce misses two point layup
19:41
Tigers offensive rebound
19:25
Tamar Bates misses two point jump shot
19:23
Tamar Bates offensive rebound
19:12
+2
Tamar Bates makes two point jump shot
39-50
19:10
Walter Clayton Jr. turnover (bad pass) (Anthony Robinson II steals)
19:10
Alex Condon shooting foul (Tony Perkins draws the foul)
19:10
+1
Tony Perkins makes regular free throw 1 of 2
40-50
19:10
+1
Tony Perkins makes regular free throw 2 of 2
41-50
18:51
+2
Rueben Chinyelu makes two point layup (Thomas Haugh assists)
41-52
18:32
Rueben Chinyelu shooting foul (Josh Gray draws the foul)
18:32
Josh Gray misses regular free throw 1 of 2
18:32
Josh Gray misses regular free throw 2 of 2
18:29
Tigers offensive rebound
18:19
+2
Tamar Bates makes two point jump shot
43-52
18:19
Thomas Haugh shooting foul (Tamar Bates draws the foul)
18:19
+1
Tamar Bates makes regular free throw 1 of 1
44-52
18:05
+2
Alijah Martin makes two point layup
44-54
18:05
Tony Perkins shooting foul (Alijah Martin draws the foul)
18:05
+1
Alijah Martin makes regular free throw 1 of 1
44-55
17:51
Tamar Bates misses two point jump shot
17:49
Rueben Chinyelu defensive rebound
17:36
Walter Clayton Jr. turnover (bad pass)
17:27
+2
Anthony Robinson II makes two point dunk
46-55
16:59
+2
Rueben Chinyelu makes two point hook shot (Will Richard assists)
46-57
16:42
Rueben Chinyelu blocks Tony Perkins's two point layup
16:40
Tamar Bates offensive rebound
16:34
Tamar Bates misses two point layup
16:32
Aidan Shaw offensive rebound
16:30
Aidan Shaw misses two point layup
16:29
Thomas Haugh defensive rebound
16:27
+2
Thomas Haugh makes two point layup (Walter Clayton Jr. assists)
46-59
16:27
Tony Perkins shooting foul (Thomas Haugh draws the foul)
16:27
+1
Thomas Haugh makes regular free throw 1 of 1
46-60
16:17
Anthony Robinson II misses two point jump shot
16:15
Peyton Marshall offensive rebound
16:14
Alijah Martin personal foul
16:03
Marques Warrick misses two point jump shot
16:01
Tony Perkins offensive rebound
15:52
+3
Caleb Grill makes three point jump shot (Tony Perkins assists)
49-60
15:41
Walter Clayton Jr. turnover (lost ball) (Anthony Robinson II steals)
15:35
+2
Tony Perkins makes two point layup (Caleb Grill assists)
51-60
15:19
+2
Micah Handlogten makes two point dunk (Will Richard assists)
51-62
14:58
Will Richard shooting foul (Caleb Grill draws the foul)
14:58
TV timeout
14:58
+1
Caleb Grill makes regular free throw 1 of 3
52-62
14:58
+1
Caleb Grill makes regular free throw 2 of 3
53-62
14:58
+1
Caleb Grill makes regular free throw 3 of 3
54-62
14:35
Denzel Aberdeen misses three point jump shot
14:33
Anthony Robinson II defensive rebound
14:25
+2
Tony Perkins makes two point jump shot
56-62
14:06
+2
Alijah Martin makes two point layup
56-64
13:56
+2
Peyton Marshall makes two point dunk (Tony Perkins assists)
58-64
13:36
Thomas Haugh turnover (bad pass)
13:28
Urban Klavzar personal foul
13:15
+2
Anthony Robinson II makes two point jump shot
60-64
12:52
Urban Klavzar misses three point jump shot
12:50
Micah Handlogten offensive rebound
12:48
Josh Gray shooting foul (Micah Handlogten draws the foul)
12:48
Micah Handlogten misses regular free throw 1 of 2
12:48
+1
Micah Handlogten makes regular free throw 2 of 2
60-65
12:30
Marques Warrick misses two point layup
12:28
Will Richard defensive rebound
12:07
+2
Denzel Aberdeen makes two point jump shot
60-67
11:42
Rueben Chinyelu personal foul (Marques Warrick draws the foul)
11:42
TV timeout
11:42
+1
Marques Warrick makes regular free throw 1 of 2
61-67
11:42
+1
Marques Warrick makes regular free throw 2 of 2
62-67
11:23
+3
Urban Klavzar makes three point jump shot (Alex Condon assists)
62-70
10:49
+2
Anthony Robinson II makes two point jump shot
64-70
10:37
Josh Gray personal foul
10:17
Gators turnover (shot clock violation)
10:02
Rueben Chinyelu personal foul (Peyton Marshall draws the foul)
10:02
Peyton Marshall misses regular free throw 1 of 1
10:02
Alex Condon defensive rebound
10:00
Tony Perkins personal foul (Alex Condon draws the foul)
9:45
Will Richard misses three point jump shot
9:43
Gators offensive rebound
9:33
+2
Alijah Martin makes two point layup (Alex Condon assists)
64-72
9:11
Tamar Bates misses two point jump shot
9:09
Walter Clayton Jr. defensive rebound
9:03
+2
Alijah Martin makes two point alley-oop dunk (Will Richard assists)
64-74
9:01
Tigers 30 second timeout
9:01
TV timeout
8:40
Alex Condon blocks Marcus Allen's two point layup
8:38
Tony Perkins offensive rebound
8:38
Tony Perkins misses two point layup
8:36
Jacob Crews offensive rebound
8:34
+2
Jacob Crews makes two point layup
66-74
8:34
Alex Condon shooting foul (Jacob Crews draws the foul)
8:34
Jacob Crews misses regular free throw 1 of 1
8:34
Will Richard defensive rebound
8:16
Alex Condon misses two point layup
8:14
Tigers defensive rebound
8:02
Jacob Crews misses three point jump shot
8:00
Rueben Chinyelu defensive rebound
7:45
Thomas Haugh turnover (bad pass)
7:45
TV timeout
7:34
Walter Clayton Jr. shooting foul (Anthony Robinson II draws the foul)
7:34
+1
Anthony Robinson II makes regular free throw 1 of 2
67-74
7:34
+1
Anthony Robinson II makes regular free throw 2 of 2
68-74
7:20
Josh Gray shooting foul (Walter Clayton Jr. draws the foul)
7:20
Walter Clayton Jr. misses regular free throw 1 of 2
7:20
+1
Walter Clayton Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2
68-75
7:04
+2
Tamar Bates makes two point layup
70-75
6:44
+2
Alex Condon makes two point dunk (Thomas Haugh assists)
70-77
6:29
Tamar Bates turnover (traveling)
6:10
Caleb Grill shooting foul (Thomas Haugh draws the foul)
6:10
+1
Thomas Haugh makes regular free throw 1 of 2
70-78
6:10
+1
Thomas Haugh makes regular free throw 2 of 2
70-79
5:49
Anthony Robinson II misses two point layup
5:47
Tony Perkins offensive rebound
5:43
+2
Tony Perkins makes two point layup
72-79
5:17
Alex Condon misses three point jump shot
5:15
Gators offensive rebound
5:15
Jacob Crews personal foul (Thomas Haugh draws the foul)
5:15
+1
Thomas Haugh makes regular free throw 1 of 2
72-80
5:15
+1
Thomas Haugh makes regular free throw 2 of 2
72-81
4:58
Tamar Bates misses two point layup
4:56
Thomas Haugh defensive rebound
4:32
+2
Alex Condon makes two point layup (Thomas Haugh assists)
72-83
4:32
Gators 30 second timeout
4:19
Tony Perkins misses two point layup
4:17
Thomas Haugh defensive rebound
4:01
Thomas Haugh misses three point jump shot
3:59
Alex Condon offensive rebound
3:55
+2
Alex Condon makes two point layup
72-85
3:43
+3
Caleb Grill makes three point jump shot (Anthony Robinson II assists)
75-85
3:28
Jacob Crews personal foul (Thomas Haugh draws the foul)
3:28
TV timeout
3:28
+1
Thomas Haugh makes regular free throw 1 of 2
75-86
3:28
Thomas Haugh misses regular free throw 2 of 2
3:28
Alex Condon offensive rebound
3:19
+3
Alijah Martin makes three point jump shot (Walter Clayton Jr. assists)
75-89
3:06
Caleb Grill misses three point jump shot
3:04
Thomas Haugh defensive rebound
2:38
+2
Will Richard makes two point dunk
75-91
2:28
Thomas Haugh personal foul (Tony Perkins draws the foul)
2:28
Tony Perkins misses regular free throw 1 of 2
2:28
Tony Perkins misses regular free throw 2 of 2
2:28
Thomas Haugh defensive rebound
2:07
+2
Alex Condon makes two point hook shot (Alijah Martin assists)
75-93
1:54
Caleb Grill misses three point jump shot
1:52
Marcus Allen offensive rebound
1:48
+2
Marcus Allen makes two point layup
77-93
1:32
+2
Will Richard makes two point layup (Thomas Haugh assists)
77-95
1:20
+2
Jacob Crews makes two point layup
79-95
1:19
Tigers 60 second timeout
0:57
Will Richard misses three point jump shot
0:55
Alijah Martin offensive rebound
0:40
Will Richard misses three point jump shot
0:38
Alex Condon offensive rebound
0:35
Alex Condon misses two point layup
0:33
Annor Boateng defensive rebound
0:30
Alijah Martin personal foul (Annor Boateng draws the foul)
0:30
Annor Boateng misses regular free throw 1 of 2
0:30
+1
Annor Boateng makes regular free throw 2 of 2
80-95
0:05
Denzel Aberdeen misses three point jump shot
0:03
Jeremy Sanchez defensive rebound
0:01
Alex Condon personal foul (Jeremy Sanchez draws the foul)
