Feb. 19, 2002

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Missouri Tigers (18-8, 7-5) at
Texas Tech Red Raiders (18-6, 7-5)
Game# 27 - Feb. 20, 2002 - Lubbock, Texas

TIPOFF: 8:15 p.m. (central time).
ARENA: United Spirit Arena (15,050). Opened in 1999. Texas Tech is 27-17 there, including 13-2 this season. MU is 1-0 there, winning 86-76 on Feb. 15, 2000.
RADIO: Tiger Network (Mike Kelly, play-by-play/Gary Leonard, color). Carried on more than 50 stations statewide, and on the Internet at www.mutigers.com. TV: Mizzou Sports Network. Dan McLaughlin play-by-play, Gary Link, color.
RANKINGS: AP / ESPN-USA / RPI: Missouri (RV / NR / 58), Texas Tech (RV / RV / 13)
SERIES: MU leads, 6-3, and has won 4 straight meetings. Tech's last win over MU was an 80-60 victory in Lubbock on Jan. 28, 1998.

MIZZOU BEGINS CRUCIAL TWO-GAME ROAD TEST AT SURGING TEXAS TECH
The Missouri Tigers (18-8 overall, 7-5 in Big 12 Conference play) hit the road for a lengthy trip, as they play consecutive road games at Texas Tech, followed by a trip to Colorado.

Missouri is looking to bounce back from a heart-breaking home defeat to Texas Sunday, as the Longhorns held off a late MU rally to post a 72-70 win. Missouri had 5 shots to take the lead in the game's final 2 minutes, but could get nothing to fall as Texas held on for the win. MU is 3-5 on the road this season, with wins coming at Saint Louis, Kansas State and Nebraska.

Texas Tech (18-6, 7-5) has won 2 straight games, and is fresh off a resounding 97-79 road win at Colorado on Saturday. The Red Raiders blew out Baylor, 90-65, in their last home game, and are 13-2 there this season.

Wednesday's game could prove to be critical in the Big 12 standings, as both teams are part of a 3-way tie for 4th place. MU and Tech enter the game at 7-5 in the league standings, tied with Oklahoma State, and 1 game behind 3rd-place Texas.

ALL-STAR CANDIDATES - It's that time of the year for singling out individuals, so please consider the following Tigers we feel are deserving of all-star recognition:

KAREEM RUSH - All-American, Wooden Award, Naismith Award, Big 12 Player-of-the-Year, All-Big 12.

CLARENCE GILBERT - All-American, All-Big 12, All-Defense.

ARTHUR JOHNSON - All-Big 12, All-Underrated.

RICKEY PAULDING - All-Big 12, Most Improved, All-Underrated.

Mizzou has a tough 6 days ahead, as they will travel 3,200 miles roundtrip from Columbia to Lubbock and then from Columbia to Boulder for consecutive road games at Texas Tech and Colorado. The Tigers then have a home game Monday against #13 Oklahoma State, giving them 3 games in just 6 days.

In position for its 4th consecutive NCAA Tournament bid (including 3 in 3 years under Quin Snyder), Missouri has plenty of opportunities to solidify its case, as 3 of its last 4 opponents are ranked in the top-25 of the RPI rankings - Texas Tech is #12, Oklahoma State is #15 and Kansas is #1.

Close games have been the norm for MU lately, as 4 of the Tigers' last 5 games have been decided by 4 points or fewer. MU has lost a 1-pt. and 2-pt. games at Baylor and vs. Texas, respectively, and has won 3-pt. and 4-pt. games at home over Iowa State and then-#8 Virginia, respectively. Overall, 4 of MU's 8 losses this season have come by 4 pts. or less.

MU's 3-pronged attack of Kareem Rush (20.3 ppg), Clarence Gilbert (15.7 ppg) and Arthur Johnson (11.8 ppg & 8.2 rpg) provide one of the best inside-outside threats around. Rush and Gilbert are ranked 1-2 in the Big 12 in 3-pt. field goals, while Johnson leads the league in blocked shots, and ranks among the leaders in rebounding and FG%.

Kareem Rush ranks 2nd in the Big 12 in scoring (20.3 ppg). He has lived up to his All-American billing of late by averaging over 25 points per game in MU's last 5 games.

Big 12 Conference schools are 7-8 this season against non-conference ranked opponents. MU owns 3 of those 7 wins, as the Tigers have beaten then-#22 Alabama, then-#9 Iowa and then-#8 Virginia.

Arthur Johnson has connected on 60.9% of his field goal attempts (28-of-46) in his last 5 games, and is averaging 12.6 points, 8.8 rebounds and 3.4 blocks per game.

Clarence Gilbert is the Big 12's active leading career scorer with 1,483 career points (he also ranks 8th alltime in the Big 12). He ranks 9th alltime at MU, as well.

Rickey Paulding is averaging 13.7 points per game in his last 7 outings, and is shooting 57.1% from the floor and 50.0% from 3-pt. range in his last 3 games. Paulding leads MU & ranks 4th in the Big 12 with a 3-pt. field goal percentage of 44.4% - more than twice his success rate of last season from downtown (21.4%).