Missouri G Caleb Grill out of hospital after injuring neck

Missouri guard Caleb Grill was discharged from a local hospital after injuring his neck and taken off the court on a stretcher during the Tigers’ home victory over Lindenwood on Wednesday night in Columbia, Mo., the school announced Thursday.

Grill was responsive and gave a thumbs-up signal when he left the court.

The school said in the statement, “(Grill) underwent further tests following the game and was discharged last night after they revealed no spinal cord injury.”

A timetable for his return has not been determined, according to the university.

Grill was going for a rebound when he appeared to have his head pulled backward by Lindenwood’s Jaylon McDaniel before he landed on the court. McDaniel was assessed a flagrant foul with 10:16 remaining in the first half.

Missouri coach Dennis Gates said after the team’s 81-61 victory that they were awaiting results of a CT scan.

“Whenever you have a head or neck injury, you want to be (cautious) and have some caution with that,” Gates said. “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.”

Grill scored two points in his seven minutes of action. He is averaging a team-high 13.6 points and as well as 2.7 rebounds and has made 55.3 percent (21 of 38) of his 3-point attempts.

Last season, his first after transferring from Iowa State, Grill played in the first nine games before sustaining a season-ending wrist injury. He finished with averages of 8.4 points and 5.8 rebounds per game.