Missouri’s DeAndre Gholston proves it’s not that you start... it’s how you finish
In his college career, especially the past three seasons, DeAndre Gholston has been a starter. He had opened all 10 games for Missouri this season and 52 of 53 games for Milwaukee before that.
But after last week’s lopsided loss to Kansas, Tigers coach Dennis Gates said the starting assignments and minutes were up for grabs for the next game. When Mizzou traveled to Sunrise, Fla., to meet Central Florida on Saturday, the lineup was announced and Gholston wasn’t part of it.
“I can be honest about it, it motivated me a lot more,” Gholston said. “It’s hard to change when you’ve been used to something for a long time.”
The start didn’t go Gholston’s way, but the finish could not have been better scripted. He found himself about 35 feet away from the basket when teammate D’Moi Hodge, who had slipped, batted a pass to him. Gholston rose up from well beyond the top of the key and fired.
Just before the buzzer sounded, the ball struck the square and bounced through the rim. The scoreboard switched from a Knights’ one-point lead to the final score: Missouri 68, Central Florida 66.
Hodge was the unsung hero on the play. He corralled a rebound off a missed three-pointer with eight seconds remaining, dribbled past midcourt and got to ball the Gholston after going down.
“D’Moi got a big time rebound and got a big time push as well,” Gholston said. “I saw UCF guys double him and try to get the ball from him. He made a big play. He was falling and got the ball to me somehow.
“I just believed in the shot.”
As it fell through the Missouri bench emptied and Gholston found himself at the bottom of the dog pile.
The game had several flows, from the Knights opening with a 10-0 start to point guard Nick Honor personally bringing Mizzou back with five three-pointers in the game’s first 12 minutes.
Missouri continued to pour it on early in the second half and opened a 51-37 lead. But back came the Knights. Mizzou went wild beyond the arc in the first half, and now it was Central Florida’s turn to use the three-pointer to fight. Each team made 13 for the game.
Tyler Hendrick’s three gave UCF a 66-65 lead with 54 seconds remaining, and when Gholston was called for an offensive foul with 39 seconds left, the Knights had the ball and the lead.
Gates chose not to foul, and UCF looked to ice the game with a three-point attempt with nine ticks left. The ball glanced off the rim and into Hodge’s hands to start the game-winning play.
Gholston, who scored all 16 points in the second half, said he’s made big shots in his career. Two years ago his three-pointer at the buzzer forced overtime and helped Milwaukee defeat Wright State in the Horizon Conference Tournament.
“This is probably the best one though,” Gholston said. “Just to enjoy it with family members and teammates who keep me in good spirits.”
Even when he doesn’t start.