Freshman Kim English hit two clutch free throws coming in off the bench for an injured J.T. Tiller who go banged up with 5.5 seconds left. Leo Lyons hit two more free throws after a Marquette turnover and beat Marquette 83-79 to advance to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament. English was big in the first half, when he poured in 15 points during 1 4 1/2-minute span. After Kimmie sat most of the second half, he had to come off the bench and sink two free throws with the game ties after Tiller drove to the basket but got fouled hard and couldn’t shoot his free throw attempts. English was nails to put the Tigers up 81-79. Then Marquette’s Lazar Hayward stepped over the baseline on the ensuing inbounds pass, and they had to foul.
Leo Lyons drained his two and Missouri moved onto the West Regional semifinals to play Memphis.
Give Marquette credit. Up until the bungled in-bound attempt, they only turned the ball over once in the second half as they were able to erase an 11 point halftime deficit and a lead that Mizzou built to 12 with 16:42 to go.
Marquette tied it with 6:14 to go at 67-67 and it looked like they may pull off the comeback as they surged ahead 78-74 with a Hayward free throw with 1:59 to play. However, Missouri went 7 for 7 from the free throw line in the final two minutes to help seal the win.
I can’t help but go back to that game in Puerto Rico when the Tigers couldn’t finish off Xavier because of their inability to hit a free throw. As the season has worn on, this team has matured and continues to find ways to win down the stretch.
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