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COLUMBIA, Mo. - Mizzou Men's Basketball fell, 69-53, to No. 1 ranked Kentucky on Thursday night (Jan. 29) at Mizzou Arena. The top-ranked Wildcats proved to be too much for the young Tigers squad - a team that features nine underclassmen on the roster. Mizzou's performance was spearheaded by sophomore guard Wes Clark and forward Johnathan Williams, III. Clark finished the night with a career-high 19 points, four rebounds and four assists, while Williams III recorded 10 points and five rebounds. It was the 14th time this season that Williams, III has scored in double figures.
Kentucky began the game knocking down three of its first five shots, jumping out to a quick lead over Mizzou. Missouri answered by going inside on the Wildcats. Senior forward Keanau Post provided the most electrifying sequence of the night as he threw down a powerful slam-dunk, and then sent a dunk attempt by Kentucky's Devin Booker flying out of bounds with an emphatic swat on the ensuing possession. Paired with a shallow jumper from Williams III, Mizzou began to draw Kentucky's No. 2 ranked scoring defense too far inside.
That opened up the wing for the Tiger guards. Clark knocked down back-to-back 3-point shots, pushing Missouri ahead of the Wildcats. Freshman Namon Wright also got in the action, hitting a big jumper in the series. Mizzou held a 17-16 advantage over Kentucky with 7:25 remaining in the first. The Tigers and Wildcats proceeded to trade buckets over the next 11 possessions. During that stretch, Missouri's offensive performance was highlighted by two rim rattling dunks by junior forward Ryan Rosburg, who finished with eight points. Kentucky went on a 12-4 run to close the half. Missouri trailed the No. 1 team in the country by just nine points at halftime, 34-25.
The Wildcats opened the second period by increasing their lead at the charity stripe. Kentucky converted 7-of-10 free throws in the first eight minutes of the second. Missouri's top performers, Clark and Williams III, kept the Tigers in the game as they recorded six points in just more than a minute, bringing the game within just two possessions at 38-32 towards the midway point of the second half.
Despite the Tigers continuing to keep the game competitive into the second half, Kentucky's No. 1 ranking proved to be well-deserved. The Wildcats used their length and athleticism to go on an 18-4 run, dwindling Missouri's chances at a comeback. After gaining a healthy lead, the Wildcats never looked back.
Up next, Missouri will continue conference play as they host Ole Miss at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 31. The game will be shown locally on the Fox Sports Network. Keep checking in to MUTigers.com for more information on Mizzou Men's Basketball. Fans can also follow the team on Twitter (@MizzouHoops).