University of Missouri
Kansas State
Tigers Knock Off Kansas State, 81-66
1/12/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan 12, 2002
Video Courtesy of ESPN
Arthur Johnson goes to work in the paint for Missouri.
56k |
100k |
300k |
By DOUG TUCKER
AP Sports Writer
MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) - Coach Quin Snyder, who told Missouri to "take a long look in the mirror" after a lackluster loss to Iowa State, loved his team's reflection this time.
Arthur Johnson had 23 points and 15 rebounds and Kareem Rush added 20 points as the 17th-ranked Tigers beat Kansas State 81-66 Saturday with one of their best outings in an up-and-down season.
"I've thought we haven't been fighting like we should," Snyder said. "We had to empty our bellies again and get hungry. We still have guys who are learning what it's like to play on the road."
Johnson, a bulky 6-foot-9, 270-pounder, muscled the smaller Wildcats post players all day, hitting constantly with a short hook.
"He just doesn't move. He's about the biggest guy I've ever played against," Kansas State forward Matt Siebrandt said.
The 23 points were a career-high for Johnson.
"Our backs have been against the wall so I wanted this real bad after that loss last week," Johnson said, referring the Iowa State game. "I knew what I had to do and coach sure wouldn't let me forget."
Rush, who snapped out of a shooting slump with 29 at Iowa State, was 6-of-12 from 3-point range. Clarence Gilbert added 19 points for the Tigers (12-4, 2-1 Big 12), who had lost four of their previous six games after being ranked as high as No. 2.
Kansas State (6-7, 0-2) got 17 points from Larry Reid, who was back after a two-week absence due to injury.
The victory also avenged the Tigers' 21-point loss at Manhattan last season.
"This was personal," Rush said. "Once we forget about the `Is' and focus on the `wes,' we can be a great team."
Kansas State shaved three points off Missouri's 10-point halftime lead before Gilbert hit two 3-pointers and triggered a 14-6 run that put the game firmly in the hands of the Tigers.
Missouri unleashed a 23-8 run and took a 16-point lead with about three minutes to go in the first half.
Johnson, who had 10 points and 10 rebounds in the first half, scored six straight points in the run and Gilbert and Rush each hit a 3-pointer.
"We got our tails kicked here last year," Snyder said. "This time we were ready."
At the end of the half, Reid's 3-pointer then got the Wildcats started on a 12-6 run, which included Reid's two free throws after Snyder was charged with a technical foul.
Pervus Pasco had 15 points and 10 rebounds for Kansas State, which was playing its first game without suspended starter Travis Reynolds.
