University of Missouri
Saint Louis University
Tigers Come Up Short Against St. Louis
12/12/1999 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 12, 1999
By R.B. FALLSTROM
AP Sports Writer
ST. LOUIS - Justin Love had 22 points and hit two clinching free throws with 11 seconds to go as Saint Louis beat Missouri 75-72 Sunday in the first meeting between the schools since 1980.
A crowd of 25,790 - about 15,000 shy of capacity at the Trans World Dome - watched the state's top two programs. The upper deck was largely empty.
Missouri's Norm Stewart and Saint Louis' Charlie Spoonhour, the retired coaches who never could agree to the series, served as commentators on the TV broadcast and sat on either side of the play-by-play man on press row.
Keyon Dooling had 21 points for Missouri (5-3), which has lost its last two in a December filled with big games. The Tigers lost to Indiana on Tuesday and also have Iowa, Illinois and Kentucky upcoming.
Matt Baniak had 13 points and nine rebounds in his first start of the season and Justin Tatum had 12 points and six rebounds for Saint Louis (5-2). The Billikens had a 41-27 rebounding advantage over Missouri, which has only one starter taller than 6-6.
Jeff Hafer added 15 points and freshman Kareem Rush had 10 for Missouri.
Tatum's 15-footer with the shot clock down to three seconds and 1:05 left put Saint Louis ahead 70-64. Dooling had eight points in the final 36 seconds and Missouri closed the gap to 73-71 with 11.9 seconds to go before Love, who was 8-for-8 at the line, hit his free throws.
Saint Louis closed the first half on a 14-4 run, including seven points by reserve Troy Robertson, to take a 28-24 lead. Missouri was held to a pair of baskets by Johnnie Parker in the final 7:52.
