March 15, 2003
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Missouri advances to the Big 12 Tournament championship game for the second
time ever. The Tigers, who were a No. 10 seed, lost to top-seeded Kansas,
87-60, in the 1997 title game. Missouri's win knocks out the No. 1 seed,
which assures that the No. 1 seed will not win the tournament for the fourth
straight year. This is only the third time a No.1 seed has not advanced to
the championship game. It's the second time a No. 5 seed has advanced to
the final tournament game. No. 5-seeded OSU advanced to the 1999 title
game, but lost to third-seeded Kansas, 53-37.
This is the fourth win of the tournament for a lower seed and marks the
second time in tournament history that four lower seeds have advanced. Four
lower seeds also advanced in 1997.
With his three blocks today, Missouri's Arthur Johnson set a Big 12
Conference tournament record for blocked shots in a tournament with 11. The
previous best was 10 by Chris Owen, Texas (two games in 2000).
Missouri snapped Kansas' five-game winning streak in the series.
Missouri is 18-0 when holding its opponent under 69 points this season.
Today marks the first time Kansas and Missouri have played outside of the
states of Kansas or Missouri. Missouri snapped Kansas' five-game win
streak, marking the team's first loss since Feb. 23 at Oklahoma.
Kansas opened the game shooting 1-of-10 from the field
After the technical at 15:31 in the first half on the Missouri bench, Kansas
went on a 13-2 run to build a 16-6 lead. Missouri tied the game with a 13-4
run. KU scored one field goal over a stretch of 7:40 in the first half.
Kansas outscored MU 15-7 in the final 5:00 of the first half.
Kansas made 10 more free throws than Missouri attempted in the first half.
The Jayhawks were 13-of-16 from the line, while Missouri was 2-of-3. In the
second half, MU was 10-of-16 from the line, while KU was 5-of-7.
KU scored 12 points off of Missouri's nine first-half turnovers.
Missouri went on a 17-6 run to pull to within one, 52-51. Missouri used a
21-9 run to take their first lead of the second half, 56-55, at 7:10.
Missouri hadn't led since Travon Bryant's jumper gave MU a 2-0 lead with
19:11 in the first half. MU held KU scoreless the last 3:17 of the game.
KU scored only two field goals in the final 4:56 of the game and was
outscored 12-4.
KU has hit at least one three-pointer in 107 straight games.
Missouri drew four charges, three by Travon Bryant.
MU's Travon Bryant tied a career high with his season-high 18 points. Prior
to today, Bryant had scored a combined 17 points in the first two meetings
vs. the Jayhawks. His seven field goals was a season high and tied his
career high. Bryant scored six-straight Missouri points in the first half
on three field goals from the 13:17 mark to the 10:33 mark. He also had a
steal and one offensive board in that stretch. He tied for Missouri's
first-half scoring lead with eight points. Bryant led the Tigers in
rebounding with seven.
Kansas took its first lead of the game with 18:03 in the first half and held
it for 30:53.
MU's Rickey Paulding had 13 of his 21 points in the second half. Kansas
built its largest lead of the game (11 points ) at 15:08 and then Paulding
took over with 10 points, including a three-pointer tied the game, 61-61, at
the 3:52 mark.
MU's Arthur Johnson scored Missouri's last two field goals. Both gave the
Tigers a lead, including game-winning basket (65-63) with 2:08 left in the
game.
With his 17 points and 10 rebounds, KU forward Nick Collison posted his
seventh double-double in the last nine games and his 12th of the season.
Collison averaged 17.9 points and 11.3 rebounds over his last nine games.
Collison moved into third place on KU's all-time scoring list. He has
scored 1,985 points during his 136-game career. Collison passed Clyde
Lovellette, and trails only Danny Manning (2,951) and Raef LaFrentz (2,066)
on KU's all-time career scoring chart. He has scored in double figures in
35 of his last 36 games dating back to last season. Collison has played in
136 straight games, starting 71 of his last 72 contests.
KU guard Kirk Hinrich has hit at least one three-pointer in 33 of his last
35 contests dating back to last season. Hinrich has started 99 of the last
101 games he's played.
