A nightmarish third quarter got even worse for the Missouri Tigers on Saturday as they suffered a heartbreaking 37-35 loss at South Carolina.
After building a 23-14 lead in the first half, Missouri gave up 17 points in the third quarter, including an interception of a Drew Lock pass returned for a touchdown, and fell behind 31-23 entering the fourth quarter.
A touchdown run by Larry Rountree III cut the lead to 31-29, and after a failed attempt for a two-point conversion, Missouri came back and took a 32-31 lead on a 44-yard field goal by Tucker McCann early in the final quarter.
The lead was short-lived, however, as South Carolina got a field goal of its own, a 42-yarder from Parker White, to reclaim the lead with 6:23 left in the game, which was played in a downpour for much of the second half.
Missouri had the ball and was just beginning a drive with a little more than 2 minutes to play when two lightning delays forced an interruption of more than one hour before play resumed.
It looked briefly as it Missouri was going to pull out a victory when McCann connected for a 57-yard field goal with 1:18 to play, the second longest field goal in school history.
That wasn’t to be, however, as South Carolina took the ensuing kickoff and gained 53 yard on nine plays, setting up White for a game-winning 33-yard field goal with two seconds left in the game.
The loss dropped Missouri to 3-2 overall and 0-2 in the SEC heading into a game next week at top-ranked Alabama.
Lock failed to pass for a touchdown for the second consecutive game, completing 17-of-36 attempts for 204 yards. He was intercepted twice.
Missouri had more success on the ground, rushing for 286 yards, led by Damarea Crockett’s 20 carries for 154 yards and a touchdown. Rountree finished with 90 yards on 13 carries.
The Tigers were without leading receiver Emanual Hall, who did not make the trip to South Carolina because of a groin injury. Jalen Knox gained 50 yards on two receptions and Jonathan Johnson had three catches for 40 yards.
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