A scary moment occurred during the Missouri-Lindenwood men’s college basketball game on Wednesday night, as a Tigers player needed to be stretchered off the court. 

Caleb Grill, the Tigers’ star guard, suffered a head and neck injury after fighting for a rebound during the team’s 81-61 win over Lindenwood. 

Grill was hit awkwardly in the head while going for that rebound, which snapped his neck back while he was in the air. He landed hard on the court and held the back of his head.

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Grill was transported to a local hospital after being stretchered off the court. He threw a thumbs up to the crowd, which cheered him on as he was taken off the court. 

The Columbia Daily Tribune had a team spokesperson tell them that Grill was responsive, but he was taken to the hospital out of caution. The specifics regarding his injury were not disclosed. 

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After the game, Mizzou head coach Dennis Gates gave an update on Grill. 

“We’re awaiting results of a CT scan,” Gates said, according to the Daily Tribune. “Whenever you have a head or neck injury, you want to be [cautious] and have some caution with that. And that’s what that was all about, making sure that he was OK. He was responsive, talking the entire time when I was down there in the huddle with him. He even rolled out with his thumb up. So, that was a good sign to see in that respect.”

Missouri Tigers guard Caleb Grill (31) shoots during the second half against the Loyola (Md) Greyhounds at Mizzou Arena.  (Jay Biggerstaff-USA Today Sports)

Grill was the Tigers’ leading scorer heading into this game, averaging 15.5 points while shooting more than 55% from three-point territory. 

His stats took a dip, though, after scoring just two points and one steal over seven minutes before missing the remainder of the game. 

The Tigers moved to 6-1 on the season, but they are hoping a key member of their starting five will be back on the court soon. 

Missouri Tigers guard Caleb Grill (31) is stretchered off the court after an injury during the first half against the Lindenwood Lions at Mizzou Arena. (Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images)

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Mizzou’s next game comes on Tuesday against Cal. 

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Missouri star Caleb Grill was taken off the court on a stretcher on Wednesday night after he went down with a scary head and neck injury in their win over Lindenwood.

Grill was transported to a local hospital. A team spokesperson told the Columbia Daily Tribune that Grill is responsive, and that he was taken to the hospital out of caution. Further specifics on his injury are not yet known.

Grill was fighting for a rebound in the lane during the contest at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, but he was awkwardly hit in the head at just the right angle that caused his neck to snap back hard as he was in the air. Grill immediately fell to the court as play moved elsewhere, and he curled up into a ball while holding the back of his head.

He remained on the court for nearly 10 minutes receiving treatment before he was stretchered off the floor. He gave a thumbs up to the crowd on his way out.

Grill had two points and one steal in seven minutes when he went down with the injury. Grill, the team’s leading scorer, missed most of last season with a wrist injury. He’s averaging 15.5 points per game while shooting nearly 59% from the field and better than 55% from behind the arc.

Missouri holds a 6-1 record on the season after the win. The Tigers’ lone loss came to Memphis in their season-opener. They’ll take on Cal next on Tuesday.

A Missouri judge upheld a law on Tuesday that requires voters to present government-issued photo identification in order to vote.

What Is the Ruling?

The ruling, made by Cole County Circuit Judge Jon Beetem on Tuesday, solidifies the 2016 voter-approved constitutional amendment enabling lawmakers to impose such photo ID requirements, despite pushback from voting rights advocates.

The Missouri law offers alternatives for voters without photo ID, allowing them to cast provisional ballots, which are counted if they return with proper identification the same day or if election officials verify their signatures.

In addition, to mitigate accessibility concerns, the state provides free photo ID cards to those who need them.

Missouri joins 36 other states that either request or mandate identification for voters, with at least 21 specifically requiring photo IDs, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

What Do Supporters of the Law Say?

Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, a Republican, praised the decision, asserting that photo ID requirements are integral to election security. “To maintain a secure system for voting, it only stands to reason that a photo ID should be essential,” Ashcroft said in a statement.

Supporters of voter ID laws argue that they prevent fraud and bolster public trust in elections.

What Do Critics Say?

Critics, however, contend that these laws disproportionately burden vulnerable groups, including seniors and people with disabilities, by creating hurdles to obtaining valid identification.

Opposition groups—including the Missouri NAACP and the League of Women Voters, along with two individual voters—challenged the law in 2022 filing a lawsuit, alleging it places undue obstacles in the path of voters and increases the likelihood of provisional ballots being rejected.

Despite these claims, Judge Beetem dismissed the lawsuit, emphasizing that none of the plaintiffs experienced specific harm since the law’s implementation.

“Their claim that their provisional ballots may be rejected is purely speculative,” Beetem wrote. “In addition, the evidence at trial confirms that rejection rates for provisional ballots are low, and the rates specifically for signature-mismatch are exceedingly low.”

In his ruling, Beetem argued that the photo ID requirement enhances election integrity, stating it “protects the fundamental right to vote by deterring difficult to detect forms of voter fraud.”

The plaintiffs, represented by the Missouri ACLU and the Missouri Voter Protection Coalition, plan to appeal the decision.

Marilyn McLeod, president of the Missouri League of Women Voters, criticized the ruling, saying: “The League believes the state should be making it easier, not harder, for Missourians to exercise their fundamental right to vote.”

“There’s no evidence of voter impersonation in Missouri, so these restrictions don’t make our elections any safer or more secure,” McLeod added.

This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.