Nashville, Tenn. – No. 4/4 Florida scored the first 10 points and never looked back, earning a 95-81 victory over No. 21/22 University of Missouri men's basketball on Friday in the SEC Tournament Quarterfinals. The Tigers head to the NCAA Tournament with a 22-11 record, while the Gators improve to 28-4 with the victory and advance to the semifinals.

MIZZOU LEADERS
Senior Tamar Bates led the Tigers in scoring for the second-straight night with 16 points. Graduate student Tony Perkins and sophomore Anthony Robinson II added 13 points apiece, while graduate student Caleb Grill also scored in double figures with 11 points.

Perkins also led the Tigers with four boards and three assists, while Robinson matched his teammate with three helpers.

GAME RECAP
The Gators caught fire from the opening whistle and quickly raced to a 10-0 lead before stretching it to 15-2. Florida led by as many as 14 points, 27-13, before an 11-1 run got the Tigers back in the game and pulled MU within four, 28-24.

Florida, however, would have the answer on the night and responded with a 9-1 spurt to move back in front by double digits, 37-26. The lead would bounce between nine and 14 the rest of the half before settling on a 13-point Gators edge at the break, 50-37.

The second half was a similar story as the Tigers would threaten to pull even only for the Gators to respond every time. Trailing by 14, Mizzou went on a 14-4 run to get within four, 64-60, with over 13 minutes remaining. Florida, though, would pull back in front of double digits only for MU to get within two possessions again at 75-70 with seven minutes left. This time, a 10-2 run sealed the victory for Florida en route to the 95-81 win.

TEAM STATS
Florida shot 61.8 percent in the winning effort with a 9-of-24 clip from 3-point range (including 7-of-14 in the first half). Mizzou made 44.1 percent of its field goals with a 4-of-16 clip from beyond the arc.

UP NEXT
The Tigers learn their postseason fate on Sunday with the NCAA Tournament selection show starting at 5 p.m.