SHREVEPORT, Louisiana (Ticker) -- South Carolina's first bowl game under Steve Spurrier started out as a game to remember. Brad Smith turned it into one the ol' ball coach likely will try to forget.

Smith racked up over 400 yards of offense and accounted for four touchdowns to lead Missouri to a 38-31 victory over South Carolina in the Independence Bowl.

In his first season as coach of the Gamecocks, Spurrier paid immediate dividends, helping the squad beat his old school, Florida, and Tennessee en route to going 5-3 and tying for second place in the rugged Southeastern Conference East Division.

Early on it looked as if Spurrier would get to cap his season with an easy victory as the Gamecocks (7-5) raced out to a 21-0 lead. Blake Mitchell threw a pair of TD passes in the first quarter and Mike Davis scored on a five-yard run to stake South Carolina to a big early cushion.

"We played well at times both offensively and defensively," Spurrier said. "But in the whole realm of 60 minutes we didn't play good enough to beat Missouri. It seems like they played faster than our guys did. Give them credit, they kicked our tails."

The Gamecocks led 28-7 late in the second quarter before Smith got going to rally the Tigers. The Big 12 Conference career leader in total offense, Smith threw a five-yard scoring strike to Chase Coffman 20 seconds before the half to make it 28-14.

In the second half it was all Missouri (7-5) as the Tigers outscored the Gamecocks 24-3 thanks to three rushing TDs by Smith, who ran for 151 yards on 21 carries and threw for 281 yards.

"Brad ran well. We tackled poorly but he made us miss," Spurrier said. "He's an excellent quarterback."

"What a great game that was to end his career," Missouri coach Gary Pinkel said. "It was a glimpse of why he is such a special player."

Smith made it 28-21 with a 31 yard TD run in the third quarter and pulled the Tigers even early in the fourth quarter with a four-yard scoring burst. Adam Crossett gave the Tigers their first lead, 31-28, with a 50-yard field goal with 10:14 to play.

After South Carolina tied the game, 31-31 on a 30-yard field goal by Josh Brown with 4:16 to play, Smith went to work again to lead Missouri on its game-winning drive. On the first play of the drive, Smith got loose for a 59-yard run down to the 18. Four plays later, he plowed into the end zone from a yard out to cap the scoring.

"I am really proud of the team. It was a great gut check and great win to end the season," Pinkel said. "Our guys kept fighting through adversity and they just started to make plays."

South Carolina moved into Missouri territory in the closing minutes but Mitchell tried to force the ball to Sidney Rice and Darnell Terrell stepped in for the interception to seal the win for the Tigers.

"It's a long time coming," Smith said of the win. "I always wanted to be a champion and today I feel like a champion. It feels good to go out with a win."

Mitchell completed 20-of-38 passes for 266 yards and was intercepted three times. Rice hauled in 12 receptions for 191 yards, both Independence Bowl records.