In a dramatic twist during Tuesday’s clash between the Missouri Tigers and the Florida Gators, Missouri’s Tony Perkins found himself ejected midway through the second half. The incident, which took a potentially crucial player off the court, revolved around a flagrant two foul called on Perkins following an altercation with Florida guard Alijah Martin.
It all unraveled when Perkins, as he tussled for positioning, swung an elbow that connected with a particularly sensitive area of Martin’s anatomy, sending him to the floor. The clock showed 8:58 remaining when the foul was assessed, leading to Perkins’ removal from the game.
ESPNU’s Mike Morgan couldn’t help but react with palpable discomfort as he narrated the moment saying, “Martin took a shot to, I believe, a very sensitive area. That one is hurtful just to watch. Tony Perkins got him with an elbow right in the groin area.” In agreement, Pat Bradley added while observing the replay, “You see Alijah Martin giving him no space. Perkins says I’m going to clear some space right here. It may hurt you, but I’m going to clear some space. It definitely hurt.” It was a rough play that shifted the dynamics of the game.
At the point of ejection, Missouri was holding a lead with a score of 65-54, and Perkins had made a steady contribution with four points, three rebounds, and two assists in his 18 minutes of play. As Morgan noted, this was indeed “a major call with 8:58 to go in this game.” The decision by the referees had the potential to swing the momentum as the Tigers played without one of their veteran ball handlers for nearly nine critical minutes.
Bradley succinctly put it, “That’s taking a primary ballhandler off the floor for Missouri. You have a veteran decision maker now out of the game for the remaining nine minutes, 8:58. That is huge.”
Despite this hiccup, Missouri managed to edge past Florida, clinching a tight victory with a final score of 83-82. The win marked another milestone as Missouri improved to a 14-3 overall standing and a 3-1 record in the SEC, while Florida, ranked fifth in the Associated Press poll, moved to 15-2 and 2-2 in the SEC. This pulsating encounter underscored the unpredictability of college basketball, with coaches Dennis Gates of Missouri and Todd Golden of Florida leading their teams through a real nail-biter.
