ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Game day at the Citrus Bowl brought a big crowd as thousands of fans filled the newly-renovated stadium for Thursday's Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl matchup.
The Missouri Tigers took on the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the game which ended shortly after 4 p.m.
Marcus Murphy ran for 159 yards, Russell Hansbrough added 114 yards and a touchdown and No. 16 Missouri beat Minnesota 33-17 on Thursday in the Citrus Bowl.
Missouri (11-3) won its third straight bowl game to reach 11 victories for the fourth time in school history.
Minnesota (8-5) trailed 19-17 entering the fourth quarter, but Missouri pulled away on Hansbrough's 78-yard touchdown run and Maty Mauk's 7-yard scoring pass to Bud Sasser.
Mauk settled down to throw two TD passes after interceptions on the Tigers' first two possessions.
The Tigers forced three turnovers.
Minnesota quarterback Mitch Leidner was 21 of 31 for 258 yards and a touchdown
Fans tailgated outside the Citrus Bowl since Thursday.
The stadium can hold 75,000 people, but the game did not sell out. The crowd numbered around 48,000, Channel 9 learned. But one Minnesota fan said he thought the turnout was great.
"I think it's really warm because we left and it was minus 7. It's wonderful. I hugged a palm tree," said Minnesota fan Cathy King.
"The weather is great because back at home it's minus 11," said Missouri fan Seth Nobis.
Former football player Brad Perry said the last time he was inside the stadium was in 1981 and it was called Orlando Stadium. Perry said he was playing quarterback for the Missouri Tigers.
"It was raining, in the 20s, the oranges froze, and this is a lot different," said Perry.
One fan told WFTV, "Since the Vikings will probably never make it to a Super Bowl; this is probably the closest to a Minnesota Super Bowl."
The Citrus Bowl has had $200 million worth of renovations.
WFTV
