COLUMBIA, Mo. — Missouri’s basketball team achieved an 81-61 victory over Lindenwood on Wednesday evening, with standout performances from Tony Perkins, who netted 18 points, and Marques Warrick, who contributed 17 points. However, the event was overshadowed by an injury to Caleb Grill, a graduate guard for the Tigers.

Grill sustained a head and neck injury while attempting to secure a rebound during the first half of the game. Following the incident, he was removed from the court on a stretcher. Although he was alert, he was taken to a local hospital as a safety measure, as reported by the university.

The Tigers surged in the first half, finishing strong with a 12-2 scoring run that enabled them to establish a 37-27 lead at the break. From that point on, Missouri maintained a double-digit advantage over Lindenwood for the remainder of the contest.

Trent Pierce also played a pivotal role in the win, adding 12 points to help the Tigers, now 6-1, extend their current home winning streak to six games since their initial defeat to Memphis. Impressively, the last four victories have been by margins of 20 points or more. Notably, all three Tigers who scored in double figures came from the bench, contributing to a remarkable total of 64 points from reserves.

For the Lions, Markeith Browning II was a standout performer, scoring 21 points while also recording four steals. Jadis Jones supported with 14 points and eight rebounds.

A crucial 10-2 run in the second half allowed the Tigers to boost their lead to 20 points, during which Lindenwood struggled significantly, failing to make a field goal for five consecutive minutes. Mizzou shot 50% from the floor, yet their three-point shooting only hit 5 of 22 attempts. The Tigers also dominated the boards with a 46-25 advantage in rebounding. In contrast, Lindenwood struggled from beyond the arc, converting just 3 of 20 attempts, but managed to secure 18 of 39 shots from inside the three-point line. Despite their struggles, the Lions did manage to pressure the Tigers into committing 20 turnovers.

Looking ahead, Missouri will host California on Tuesday as part of the SEC/ACC Challenge, while Lindenwood will face East-West University at their home court next Wednesday.