Caleb Grill returns from neck injury as Mizzou basketball defeats Alabama State

It was quite the day for Missouri Tigers athletics.

Mizzou basketball closed its non-conference slate with an emphatic 82-65 win over Alabama State on Monday, hours after Mizzou football won the Music City Bowl against Iowa.

The Tigers rebounded from their last game, a close loss to Illinois in which they shot just 39.7% from the field. Against the Hornets, Mizzou shot 52.1% in a much needed win before the Tigers begin their SEC schedule.

Coach Dennis Gates’ squad was in control at Mizzou Arena, never trailing and building the lead as high as 26. Four of the Tigers’ starters scored in double-figures in the win, but the big story came from the bench, which scored 26 points while featuring an important return of a key player.

That player was Caleb Grill, who returned to the court after sustaining a neck injury against Lindenwood on Nov. 27. That injury resulted in him being stretchered off the court.

“It was good just being able to get out there and feel like myself again,” Grill said. “I feel like in the neck brace it wasn’t my personality or anything like that. It was just good to get back out there, be with my teammates and be able to provide an impact on winning the game tonight.”

Grill scored six points on 2-of-8 shooting in his first game back. He also had a steal in 11 minutes. Gates noted Grill quickly dove on the floor, something he had not been allowed to do in practice leading up to the game.

“If he would’ve done that in practice, I would have probably blown a gasket,” Gates joked.

Tamar Bates led the Tigers with 16 points. It was his second straight game in double-digits. Mark Mitchell closely followed with 14, while Trent Pierce and Tony Perkins had 12 apiece.

The Tigers open their SEC schedule on Jan. 4 with a trip to No. 2 Auburn (11-1). The Tigers are in search of their first SEC win since March 2023, leading an 0-18 conference campaign in 2023-24.