Mizzou beats BYU in Gary Pinkel’s first game since retirement announcement

J’Mon Moore’s touchdown catch early in the fourth quarter helped Missouri to a 20-16 victory over BYU on Saturday night, capping a tumultuous week for the Tigers that began with a boycott and included the resignation announcement of coach Gary Pinkel.

Drew Lock threw for 244 yards, and Russell Hansbrough ran for 117 yards, helping the Tigers (5-5) snap a four-game losing streak while greatly improving their faded bowl prospects.

The game was put in doubt last weekend when black players said they wouldn’t practice or play until the university system president stepped down. The team joined forces with a student activist group that had been trying to get the president’s attention for months.

Not playing the game could have cost Missouri $1 million or more. The president resigned on Monday. Pinkel, who publicly supported the players, announced Friday that he was diagnosed with lymphoma and would step down at the end of the season.