Members of the Illinois mens basketball team congratulate Rayvonte Rice after hitting a three point shot at the buzzer to defeat the Missouri Tigers 62-59 in the annual Braggin Rights game at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis on Decemeber 20, 2014.     UPI/Bill Greenblatt

Members of the Illinois men’s basketball team congratulate Rayvonte Rice after hitting a three point shot at the buzzer to defeat the Missouri Tigers 62-59 in the annual Braggin Rights game at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis on Decemeber 20, 2014. UPI/Bill Greenblatt

I think Mizzou basketball fans would be happy with that type of effort every night.  On Saturday afternoon at the Braggin’ Rights game in St. Louis, the Tigers came up just short.  Rayvonte Rice hit a three-pointer at the buzzer, giving Illinois a 62-59 victory over Mizzou.  Rice led Illinois with 19 points, seven rebounds and three assists.  The win is Illinois’ second in a row in this series and 22nd in the 34 years.

Wes Clark nailed a  jumper from the key to tie the game for 10th time of the contest with 17.8 seconds remaining, Illinois left the game in Rice’s hands. He dribbled for several seconds before hitting a fade-away shot over defenders Keith Shamburger and Johnathan Williams III. I thought he almost waited to long before dribbling in position.  He was well defended, but made a helluva shot.

Williams had 15 points and eight rebounds for Missouri. Clark added 11 points, five rebounds and three assists and also tied it at 55 with 4:40 to go.

Listen to Clark and Anderson during their postgame press conference