WICHITA, KS – Silence fell over the Missouri Tigers’ locker room as head coach Dennis Gates struggled to find the words. Moments after his team’s 67-57 first-round loss to Drake, the emotions of the season came crashing down. Sitting beside departing seniors Caleb Grill and Tamar Bates, Gates nearly broke down.
“I’d come to tears if I really let everything out,” he said, voice wavering. “I’m just grateful they chose to play for me.”
It was a gut-wrenching end to what had been a remarkable turnaround for Mizzou. After a winless conference season last year, the Tigers clawed their way back to the NCAA Tournament, only to see their hopes of a Final Four run in San Antonio dashed in the first round.
Drake dominated early, holding Missouri to just 23 first-half points—the Tigers’ lowest scoring half all season. Turnovers plagued Mizzou, as they coughed the ball up 17 times, allowing Drake to capitalize with 23 points off giveaways.
“We forced turnovers, but we just couldn’t secure the ball when it mattered most,” Gates admitted.
Despite having a size advantage, the Tigers were outrebounded 31-26 and outscored 18-10 in the paint during the first half. The Bulldogs’ relentless defense kept Missouri on its heels, never allowing them to fully recover.
For seven Mizzou seniors, including Grill, this game marked the end of their college careers. Grill, playing his final game in his hometown of Wichita, finished with 14 points but struggled from deep, hitting just one of seven three-pointers.
As Gates reflected on his team’s journey, his voice cracked. More than the loss, it was the bond he had built with his players that hit hardest.
“What really matters is the relationships,” Gates said. “I’m proud of how much they’ve grown, what they’ve given to each other, to this program. That’s bigger than basketball.”
With the Tigers’ season over, the focus now shifts to the future. But in that moment, under the bright lights of Intrust Bank Arena, it was all about what could have been.
