Jan 26, 2002
By R.B. FALLSTROM
AP Sports Writer
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) - After scoring 18 points in the first half, Kareem Rush decided to let his teammates have a chance.
It nearly backfired on No. 18 Missouri, which led by as many as 18 points and then had to hold off a late challenge from Kansas State for an 86-74 victory Saturday.
"I was kind of lackadaisical the second half," said Rush, who finished with 22 points. "I could have come out and scored more points, but I wanted to let the guys who were in foul trouble the first half go out there and have fun. I just took a back seat."
Missouri (15-5, 5-2 Big 12) has an 18-game winning streak against Kansas State (7-10, 1-5) in the Hearnes Center, with the last setback coming in 1985. The latest one wasn't easy, even after the Tigers took control with an early 17-2 run.
Tony Atchison's 3-pointer made it 74-67 with 2:50 left before Missouri clinched it at the free throw line.
"We were in a great position," Wildcats forward Pervis Pasco said. "We needed to stop them on defense, but we gave up some easy baskets and made some stupid fouls, so we couldn't take advantage."
Najeeb Echols was 3-of-4 from the line and Rush made two free throws to put Missouri up 79-67 with 1:20 to play. Missouri held on despite playing the last 3{ minutes without big men Travon Bryant and Arthur Johnson, who both fouled out.
"The mark of a team is being able to withstand the runs," Rush said. "They made their run, but in the end we made our free throws."
Missouri players said they weren't looking past Kansas State and anticipating a Monday night matchup at No. 2 Kansas. But at times the Tigers appeared to play that way.
Coach Quin Snyder was unhappy with the play of both Johnson and Bryant.
"I thought they were lazy," Snyder said. "They weren't lazy the whole game."
Bryant, who had eight points and five rebounds, wasn't arguing.
"We could have come out there and played more aggressive and more alert," Bryant said. "All I know is Monday night we can't come there like that."
Rush was 7-for-10 from the field in the first half, helping Missouri take a 30-15 lead off the 17-2 run, and 1-for-5 the rest of the way. Still, he rebounded from a 4-for-15 game and 13 points in a loss at Oklahoma on Monday.
"I thought he let up at the half," Snyder said. "He got beat backdoor, didn't go the boards. He needs to keep his mind in that place, and when he does he's a heck of a player."
Pasco had 11 points and 11 rebounds, his seventh double-double in 11 games, for Kansas State. Larry Reid had 19 points and five assists, and Atchison added 17 points.
"You can't play in spurts, you have to play consistently, especially against a Top 25 team," Kansas State coach Jim Wooldridge said. "We feel like we're growing and we're in pain at the same time."
Rickey Paulding added 15 points and Johnson and Clarence Gilbert each had 14 points for Missouri, which has won four of five overall. The Tigers are 10-1 at home.
Missouri hit seven of nine shots in a five-minute first-half span to take a 30-15 lead. That included consecutive 3-pointers in a 24-second span by Paulding.
Missouri won despite shooting failing to shoot 50 percent for the sixth time in seven games, finishing at 49 percent. Kansas State entered the game leading the Big 12 in field goal defense, holding opponents to 39 percent.