March 8, 2004

Columbia, Mo. - Senior Arthur Johnson and junior Jason Conley were named to three Big 12 Specialty Teams, the Big 12 Conference Office announced on Monday. Johnson was named to the Big 12 All-Defense team for the second time in his career and Conley's name can be found on both the All-Newcomer and All-Reserve squads. The members of the teams were selected by sportswriters who regularly cover the Big 12.

Johnson has led Mizzou in blocks and rebounding in each of the last three years and currently leads the squad in the two categories through the end of the regular season. The Tiger all-time leading rebounder (1,062 boards) and shot blocker (244) has blocked 47 shots and pulled down a team-best 203 rebounds in 2003-04 and will more than likely become the first Tiger in school history to lead the squad in rebounding in four straight seasons. He ranks second on both the Big 12 rebounding and shot-blocking career charts and is the only player in MU history to record at least 1,600 points, 1000 rebounds and 200 blocks.

Conley has been extremely vital to the Tigers' efforts this season. He has played in 22 games and has averaged 14.4 points and 5.0 rebounds over the course of the Tigers' last eight games. The Tigers have gone 6-2 during that stretch. He has knocked down 42.1 percent of his shots on the year and ranks third on the team in steals with 19. Conley has led Mizzou in scoring in three games and has scored 20 points or more in two games off of the bench.

Johnson, Conley and the sixth-seeded Tigers begin play in the Phillips 66 Big 12 Conference Tournament on Thursday night at 8:30 p.m. CST against the No. 11 seed, Texas A&M. For more information on Missouri Athletics, log on to www.mutigers.com.

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