The second-to-last regular season game for the Missouri Tigers at the Hearnes Center proved to be one of the most entertaining. Despite blowing a 13-point first half lead, Mizzou battled back to beat 6th-ranked Oklahoma State 93-92 in double-overtime. Things were looking good for the Tigers when they went up 45-32 with Rickey Paulding’s three-pointer at the 2:17 mark of the first half. Oklahoma State battled the rest of the game, but Paulding’s three-pointer with 4:52 to go in regulation put Missouri on top 71-62—that was their last field goal in regulation. Arthur Johnson’s two crucial free throws with 38 seconds to go gave Mizzou a 73-71 lead, but Ivan McFarlin tied it with 9.3 seconds remaining. In overtime, OSU took a three-point lead with 32 seconds left before freshman Thomas Gardner nailed a three pointer. Oklahoma couldn’t convert with 20 seconds on the clock and it went to double overtime tied at 82. There were four lead changes and four ties in the final five minutes. Arthur Johnson struck again from the free throw line, hitting two to give Missouri the eventual game-winning margin of 93-92. A final shot from three-point shot from Lucas with seconds to go missed, Jason Conley grabbed the rebound and the game was over. Paulding finished with 31 points, Johnson had 29. John Lucas matched Paulding’s 31 points, while Tony Allen scored 24 for Oklahoma State. With their fifth straight win Missouri improved to 14-10 overall and 8-5 in the Big 12. Oklahoma State dropped to 21-3 and 11-2.
