University of Missouri
Nebraska
Missouri Downs Nebraska, 80-70
1/22/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 22, 2005
By R.B. FALLSTROM
AP Sports Writer
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) - Linas Kleiza had a career-high 31 points and 10 rebounds and Missouri held Nebraska to five points in an eight-minute span of the second half of an 80-70 victory on Saturday.
Thomas Gardner added 17 points and Jimmy McKinney had 13 for Missouri (10-8, 2-3 Big 12), which ended a three-game losing streak - the last two by a combined 36 points. Missouri has beaten Nebraska 10 straight times at home and coach Quin Snyder is 10-2 against the Cornhuskers.
Missouri, which shot 54 percent and had a decided edge at the free throw line, hasn't had a four-game losing streak since the 1997-98 season. The Tigers were 26-for-31 at the line, while Nebraska was 8-for-10.
Joe McCray had 16 points and reserve Aleks Maric had 14 for Nebraska (8-7, 2-3), which failed to capitalize on a two-point loss at No. 2 Kansas on Wednesday.
McCray and Missouri point guard Jason Horton clashed briefly at the end of the game before being restrained by coaches. Missouri had been running out the clock when McCray tried for a steal.
Kleiza had seven points in an 18-5 run that started with Missouri leading by a point with 12:28 to play. Kleiza and Gardner had three-point plays and Horton hit a 3-pointer to help the Tigers take a 70-56 lead with 4:24 left.
It was the second straight double double and fourth of the season for Kleiza, who was 8-for-12 from the field and 15-for-17 from the line. The previous career best for the sophomore forward was 26 points Dec. 11 against Montana.
McCray, who entered the game tied for the Big 12 3-point lead, was 3-for-10 from long range to set a school freshman record with 47, breaking the mark of 44 by Eric Piatkowski in 1990-91.
Gardner had 12 points in a seesaw first half and his 3-pointer at the buzzer gave Missouri a 38-37 lead.
Missouri led by 11 points after a 12-0 run made it 19-8 with 11:24 left and Nebraska led by four points after Wilkinson's follow dunk with 19.2 seconds to go. But Wilkinson drew a technical for hanging on the rim and Missouri scored the last five points in the half.
