History doesn’t play ballgames, players do.
History was all Missouri had going for it last night. And it wasn’t enough as the Baylor Bears beat the Tigers 97-to-83, becoming only the second number 11 seed to defeat a number 6 seed in the Big 12 tournament and sending Missouri to its first first-round loss in the conference tournament.
Baylor shredded Missouri’s highly touted defense, shooting better than 60-percent from the field. Guard Curtis Jerrells lit up the Tigers for 31 points, hitting 70-percent of his shots. The game was sealed at the end of the first half when Baylor broke open a 30-30 tie with an 18-to-5 run in the final five minutes. Mizzou Guard Matt Lawrence came out hot in the second half, hitting three three-pointers, bringing the Tigers within five. That was as close as Missouri would get.
In other Big 12 tournament action in Oklahoma City: Oklahoma defeated Iowa State, Texas Tech beat Colorado and Oklahoma State beat Nebraska.