Bud Sasser hauls in a 25 yard pass from Maty Mauk to give Missouri a 10-7 halftime lead. (photo/Bill Pollock, Missourinet)
Forced to punt after what looked like another three and out, Gary Pinkel pulled out a fake punt that defensive lineman Harold Brantley took off for a 19 yard gain and first down. Marcus Murphy broke a 19 yard run on the very next play, but the drive ended in a punt. Christian Brinser dropped one down at the Gopher two.
After a three and out, Mizzou got the ball at midfield and Russell Hansbrough broke off a 22 yard run to get the ball inside the Gopher 30. The Tigers eventually settled on a 21 yard field goal by Andrew Bagget to cut the lead to 7-3.
The tide started to turn after Minnesota was forced to punt after just one first down. The Tigers took over at their 33 and used a 16 yard run by Murphy and 20 yard run by Mauk to get down to the Gopher 25. Mauk then floated a pass to the back shoulder of Bud Sasser who hauled in the pass for a touchdown and a Mizzou lead of 10-7 with 1:07 to play in the first half.
The Tigers gained 184 yards in the half, with 133 on the ground. Murphy had 56, Mauk 35 and Hansbrough 23. The defense held their big tight end target Maxx Williams to four catches for just 23 yards. Their top running back David Cobb, who averages close to 130 yards per game, had 52 on 13 carries.