Missouri

‘Special performances’: How Missouri basketball’s Tamar Bates, Caleb Grill sunk Ole Miss

Published

1 year ago

January 26, 2025

‘Special performances’: How Missouri basketball’s Tamar Bates, Caleb Grill sunk Ole Miss

Missouri basketball guard Tamar Bates crashed the glass for a defensive rebound inside the final minute of the game, bounced a pass underneath an instant Ole Miss press to teammate Mark Mitchell and then didn’t bother turning up court for a breakaway.

A foul was coming, and an MU win was coming. Bates’ focus instead went to the limbs flying around in Mizzou Arena’s student section directly in front of him, and the guard began to flex his arms to fuel the frenzy.

While he tensed, the crowd in Columbia loosened.

Breathe out, Mizzou fans. And when you’re done exhaling, say a quick thank you to Bates and Caleb Grill.

Breathe out, because No. 24/22 Missouri bounced back from a midweek loss to knock off No. 16/16 Ole Miss 83-75 on Saturday at Mizzou Arena, and the Tigers are now 5-2 in Southeastern Conference play and well ahead of schedule for an NCAA Tournament berth.

It’s no secret what Grill is capable of on any given day. He’s one of the leading 3-point shooters in the nation, and has shown as much in crunch time in multiple Mizzou (16-4, 5-2 SEC) games this season. Grill had 25 points and a 6-of-10 mark from 3 on Saturday.

And it’s no secret what Bates is capable of on any given day. He’s the engine that never seems to stop for this Tigers team, and a player that again is knocking on the door of a 40-50-90 shooting mark midway through the year. Bates had a game-high 26 points with an 8-of-13 mark from the field against the Rebels (15-5, 4-3).

Individually, they’ve each won games.

When both players have a hot hand like that?

Well, let Ole Miss coach Chris Beard walk you through what that did to his top-10 ranked defense …

“It puts a lot of pressure on us defensively, because the other three guys on the floor are good players,” Beard said. “So it’s not one of these deals where we can just talk about those two guys. Missouri has real SEC talent. … “So, when two of your best players go 10 points over their scoring average or more, and the 3-point shot is like shooting our Nerf goal when I was a kid on the back of my bedroom door, it’s going to be hard.”

The Mississippi coach called Bates and Grill’s games “special performances” no fewer than seven times in his postgame press conference. Beard repeatedly called them two of the best players in the SEC.

That’s because the Tigers needed every ounce of the weight they pulled Saturday to get across the line and ease any lingering fan anxiety — especially after a slow night Tuesday in Texas — about the potential direction this season could go.

Mizzou never truly separated from the Rebels.

Multiple eight- or nine-point MU leads were pulled back to five and four. The Tigers kept getting to the free throw line early in the second half, but they only made 50% of their opening 12 attempts. There were some careless turnovers, and a few Ole Miss triples that let some nervous air linger.

But for every shaky moment, there was a response from Grill or Bates.

When Ole Miss opened with an 8-0 run, Bates scored 10 points in 2:11 to help flip the lead.

When Mississippi point guard Sean Pedulla cut the once-12-point Mizzou lead to three with an arena-quieting triple? Fifteen seconds later, Grill played catch and shoot in the corner and let the sold-out crowd catch a breath.

When Missouri needed to drive the knife in, Bates scored eight points in 3:30 minutes in crunch time to provide the twist.

Grill converted a four-point play. Bates had a breakaway dunk off of his own tipped pass for a steal. The pair combined for a 11-of-11 mark at the free throw line, where Mizzou attempted an astounding 39 shots but the rest of the Tigers shot a combined 60.7%.

“I think these guys have gone through so many battles that you kind of take it for granted what they bring to the table,” Gates said. “Look at the stress and how they handle it. Look at the situations and how they handle it. They handle themselves, and they lead in a way that I am very proud of.”

Without fail, the Tigers swatted Ole Miss back.

After its worst offensive output of the season in Texas on Tuesday, Missouri put itself back on track.

Gates’ team has not lost back-to-back games this season. The Tigers are 15-0 at home this season, and far importantly — 5-2 in league play. That puts Mizzou in a share for third place in the conference standings through seven games.

The conversation around Missouri and the NCAA Tournament is now more about seeding than qualifying. The Tigers likely need three more wins before the regular season is over to lock a Big Dance invite up.

Let Beard tell you … After what the visiting coach watched Saturday, those are coming.

Bates and Grill underlined that.

“Those two guys have those games on the same night together?” Beard said. “You know, Dennis will have some great evenings after games around here.”

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Missouri

Missouri Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 3 winning numbers for March 3, 2026

Published

7 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

The Missouri Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at March 3, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from March 3 drawing

07-21-53-54-62, Mega Ball: 16

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from March 3 drawing

Midday: 5-8-9

Midday Wild: 8

Evening: 8-8-2

Evening Wild: 7

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from March 3 drawing

Midday: 0-3-5-7

Midday Wild: 2

Evening: 0-9-9-5

Evening Wild: 6

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from March 3 drawing

Early Bird: 13

Morning: 15

Matinee: 09

Prime Time: 14

Night Owl: 14

Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Show Me Cash numbers from March 3 drawing

04-07-09-17-21

Check Show Me Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

All Missouri Lottery retailers can redeem prizes up to $600. For prizes over $600, winners have the option to submit their claim by mail or in person at one of Missouri Lottery’s regional offices, by appointment only.

To claim by mail, complete a Missouri Lottery winner claim form, sign your winning ticket, and include a copy of your government-issued photo ID along with a completed IRS Form W-9. Ensure your name, address, telephone number and signature are on the back of your ticket. Claims should be mailed to:

Ticket Redemption

Missouri Lottery

P.O. Box 7777

Jefferson City, MO 65102-7777

For in-person claims, visit the Missouri Lottery Headquarters in Jefferson City or one of the regional offices in Kansas City, Springfield or St. Louis. Be sure to call ahead to verify hours and check if an appointment is required.

For additional instructions or to download the claim form, visit the Missouri Lottery prize claim page.

When are the Missouri Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 9:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
Pick 3: 12:45 p.m. (Midday) and 8:59 p.m. (Evening) daily.
Pick 4: 12:45 p.m. (Midday) and 8:59 p.m. (Evening) daily.
Cash4Life: 8 p.m. daily.
Cash Pop: 8 a.m. (Early Bird), 11 a.m. (Late Morning), 3 p.m. (Matinee), 7 p.m. (Prime Time) and 11 p.m. (Night Owl) daily.
Show Me Cash: 8:59 p.m. daily.
Lotto: 8:59 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday.
Powerball Double Play: 9:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Missouri editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Missouri

Missouri auditor to probe St. Louis arts funder after whistleblower complaint

Published

19 hours ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

Missouri auditor to probe St. Louis arts funder after whistleblower complaint

Missouri state Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick has launched a review of the Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis’ finances.

The audit is in response to complaints from a whistleblower who alerted the office to possible misuse of funds, Fitzpatrick said Tuesday. The auditor’s office then reviewed documents provided by RAC during an initial investigation before launching a full audit.

“We have verified the veracity of the whistleblower complaint, and have seen with our own eyes at this point records that give us enough concern that we want to proceed with an audit,” Fitzpatrick said.

The auditor’s report could be released late this year or in early 2027, he added. It would then be up to state and local authorities to follow up on any potential misconduct.

In an unsigned statement, RAC said it receives an annual audit from a firm selected by the offices of the St. Louis mayor and St. Louis County executive and that it shares the results publicly. “[We] are confident the findings from the state will mirror the success we have come to expect at the local level,” the statement says.

“We welcome the opportunity to provide documentation and context regarding our financial practices and grantmaking processes. As always, RAC will continue to focus on serving the St. Louis region’s arts and cultural community and maintaining the public’s trust,” the statement adds.

Potential issues identified in the state auditor’s initial investigation include the possibilities that RAC’s administrative expenses exceed what is allowed by statute, that leaders issued bonuses disallowed by the state constitution and that large grants were issued with no follow-up to ensure the money was used properly.

Fitzpatrick said his actions are not related to the commission’s choice of grant recipients.

Changes to the grant process

RAC distributes annual grants to arts organizations in St. Louis and St. Louis County. It is funded by a tax on hotel and motel stays. The commission distributed $3.7 million last year.

The organization suspended grant applications for fiscal 2026 due to “continuing financial volatility” and a new five-year plan, according to a note on its website. It will use applications received in 2025 as a guide for its 2026 grants.

Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis

Vanessa Cooksey took leadership of the Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis in 2021.

“This pause allows RAC to support eligible and high-scoring 2025 grantees and applicants while navigating financial challenges and planning for a stronger, more sustainable grant program in the future,” the note says.

RAC publishes a list of its annual grants online.

Vanessa Cooksey became president and CEO of the organization in 2020 after it spent a year without a permanent leader. Previous chief Felicia Shaw had stepped down in November 2019. Neither Shaw nor RAC provided a public explanation for Shaw’s departure.

Some smaller organizations had complained that during Shaw’s tenure they stopped receiving annual grants.

The Regional Arts Commission had a $13.4 million budget in 2024, according to tax documents. Cooksey received a $196,253 salary and $28,652 in additional compensation.

Continuing a process begun by Shaw, Cooksey oversaw changes to grant applications that she said were meant to simplify the process – including removing a longstanding split between its funding mechanisms for large and small organizations.

A key arts funder after the coronavirus pandemic

In November 2022, the St. Louis Board of Aldermen voted unanimously to direct $10.6 million from the American Rescue Plan Act to RAC. A measure that would have allocated another $1.6 million failed to pass the St. Louis County Council, so RAC was statutorily required to distribute ARPA funds only to groups based in St. Louis.

RAC has distributed $9.5 million of the ARPA money so far, funding 195 individual artists and 75 organizations.

Arts leaders said in 2022 that the sector supports more than 19,000 jobs and generates nearly $600 million a year – more than all local sports franchises combined.

The federal money was a boon to St. Louis artists and arts organizations following a steep decrease in funding at the height of the coronavirus pandemic due to decreased tourism in the region.

Tax revenues earmarked for RAC decreased from $9.5 million in fiscal 2019 to $2.8 million the next year. Tax revenue directed to RAC have increased but still lag behind the pre-pandemic total. The commission reported $7.5 million in tax revenue received in fiscal 2024.

RAC presented a new five-year plan with much fanfare in March 2020 but had little initial opportunity to implement it. Not long after, St. Louis officials put limits on public gatherings to tamp down spread of the virus that causes COVID-19.

Commission officials released a new five-year strategic roadmap in December 2025.

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Missouri Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 winning numbers for March 2, 2026

Published

1 day ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

The Missouri Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at March 2, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from March 2 drawing

02-17-18-38-62, Powerball: 20, Power Play: 2

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from March 2 drawing

Midday: 3-3-4

Midday Wild: 2

Evening: 4-8-9

Evening Wild: 7

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from March 2 drawing

Midday: 6-4-2-2

Midday Wild: 5

Evening: 2-8-2-4

Evening Wild: 1

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from March 2 drawing

Early Bird: 08

Morning: 12

Matinee: 05

Prime Time: 04

Night Owl: 02

Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Show Me Cash numbers from March 2 drawing

13-17-18-23-28

Check Show Me Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from March 2 drawing

21-28-58-65-67, Powerball: 25

Check Powerball Double Play payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

Ticket Redemption

Missouri Lottery

P.O. Box 7777

Jefferson City, MO 65102-7777

For additional instructions or to download the claim form, visit the Missouri Lottery prize claim page.

When are the Missouri Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 9:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
Pick 3: 12:45 p.m. (Midday) and 8:59 p.m. (Evening) daily.
Pick 4: 12:45 p.m. (Midday) and 8:59 p.m. (Evening) daily.
Cash4Life: 8 p.m. daily.
Cash Pop: 8 a.m. (Early Bird), 11 a.m. (Late Morning), 3 p.m. (Matinee), 7 p.m. (Prime Time) and 11 p.m. (Night Owl) daily.
Show Me Cash: 8:59 p.m. daily.
Lotto: 8:59 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday.
Powerball Double Play: 9:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Missouri editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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