Feb. 11, 2001
By CHUCK SCHOFFNER
AP Sports Writer
AMES, Iowa - Martin Rancik returned after rolling his right ankle to score 23 points and Jamaal Tinsley had eight of his 18 in the final 4:17, leading No. 12 Iowa State to a 72-64 victory over Missouri.
Missouri (15-8, 6-4 Big 12) fought back from a 10-0 deficit and played gamely in its first appearance without its top two scorers, Kareem Rush and Clarence Gilbert, mainly because of Brian Grawer's 3-point shooting.
But the Tigers just didn't have enough firepower to stay with Iowa State (21-3, 9-2) and they didn't have anyone who could stay with Tinsley, who's a master at drawing fouls and took over down the stretch.
Rush, the Big 12's leading scorer, is lost for the season with a thumb injury and Gilbert has been suspended indefinitely. They have accounted for 49 percent of Missouri's points.
Gilbert and Rush combined for 75 points when Missouri beat Iowa State 112-109 in four overtimes last month. Iowa State has won eight straight since then and leads the Big 12 by a half-game over Kansas.
Grawer scored 24 points on eight 3-point baskets, one of which came during a 9-0 run that chopped a 13-point Iowa State lead to 60-56 with 4:35 left. That's when Tinsley went to work.
Guarded by freshman Wesley Stokes, Tinsley drove past him for two baskets, sank four free throws and fed Rancik for a layup in transition as Iowa State stretched the lead to 72-61, more than enough to withstand a final 3 by Grawer.
Rickey Paulding scored 15 points for Missouri and Stokes had 12 points, six rebounds and five assists. Jake Sullivan scored 13 for Iowa State, which has won 33 straight at home.
Iowa State jumped to a 10-0 lead as Missouri failed to score on its first five possessions, and Paul Shirley's follow shot made it 19-8. Grawer then hit three straight 3-pointers to trigger a 20-4 run the pulled the Tigers into a 28-23 lead, Grawer capping the burst with a fourth 3.
Then it was Iowa State's turn. As Missouri went scoreless for almost six minutes, Tinsley hit a 3-pointer and four free throws in a 10-0 run that sent the Cyclones back into the lead at 33-28. They led the rest of the way.
Iowa State got a scare when Rancik rolled his ankle and hopped off the floor holding his right foot up with 12:46 left in the half. He returned 9 minutes later and showed no ill effects from the injury, making 9-of-15 shots and grabbing five rebounds.