Tigers lose Braggin’ Rights

One day after cracking the Top 25, Missouri showed they have some work to be done losing to Illinois in the Braggin’ Rights game 75-59. Leo Lyons led Missouri with 22 points as the Tigers fall to 9-2.Illinois led by 20 points in the first half behind 55 percent shooting and cruised to its fifth straight victory overall.Trent Meacham had 23 points with three 3-pointers and Mike Davis had 13 points and nine rebounds for Illinois (11-1), who had one the last two games by a combined four points. This time around, th Fighting Illini shot 57 percent while beating Mizzou who had been averaging 25-point blowouts during its winning streak.The Tigers shot a season-worst 37 percent and obviously put up their season’s lowest point total. Illinois took control early thanks to Demetri McCamey, who hit his first five shots and outscored the rest of his team 13-7 while fueling a 20-9 lead just over 8 minutes into the game. McCamey was 4-for-5 from 3-point range in the half three days after totaling seven points in a victory over Detroit, and had not scored in double figures in two of the three previous games.Missouri trailed at halftime after shooting 30 percent and missing all eight 3-point attempts and going without leading scorer DeMarre Carroll for 6 minutes after he injured his left ankle.Carroll, who averages 17.6 points and seven rebounds, was held to six points and one rebound.