Jan. 15, 2001

Columbia, Mo. - The University of Missouri men's basketball team was rewarded for its recent play by cracking the Associated Press Top 25 poll for the first time in two seasons. Missouri debuted in the poll, released today, at 20th in the nation, which is the Tigers' highest ranking in the poll since being 18th in December of 1995. Missouri carried the No. 18 ranking with them to the Rainbow Classic, but dropped out after going 1-2 at the tournament.

Missouri is ranked 28th in the latest ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll.

In other men's basketball news, junior guard Clarence Gilbert has received two awards for his stellar play over the last week. Gilbert, who averaged 32.5 points and 5.5 assists in MU's two wins last week, has been named the Big 12 Conference Player of the Week, and has also been tabbed as ESPN's National Player of the Week, according to ESPN.com.

Gilbert tied a Big 12 record by scoring 43 points in Saturday's historic quadruple overtime win against Iowa State. He set MU and Big 12 records for minutes played (56) and shots attempted (36), and also set a Tiger record with 18 three-point field goal attempts. Amazingly, he also turned in nine assists and had zero turnovers in those 56 minutes of play. Earlier in the week, Gilbert scored a game-high 22 points, and hit a perfect 9-of-9 free throws in leading MU to an important 82-76 win at Colorado.

Gilbert is the second Tiger to receive such acclaim this season. Sophomore Kareem Rush earned Big 12 Player of the Week honors Dec. 12th, as well as national player awards from ESPN.com, FoxSports.com and CNN/SI.com for averaging 28.0 points and 6.5 rebounds in wins over DePaul and Saint Louis.

Rush (22.3 points per game) and Gilbert (18.5 ppg) are currently ranked 1-2 in the Big 12 Conference in scoring.