Marcus Denmon made the final shot of the game. The only problem is the clock read 0.00 before it left his hands. Michael Dixon’s pass to Denmon was just a second too late as #3 Mizzou failed to get off the final shot, losing to #5 Kansas 87-86 in an overtime thriller.
AUDIO Mizzou postgame (14:30)
The Tigers led 55-36 with 16:50 to go in the game, but Kansas stormed back, outscoring Mizzou 39-20 from that point on to force overtime. Missouri went 5:59 without a field during one stretch in the second half that saw a 16-point lead cut down to five with 3:51 to play.
After Kansas found themselves in first half foul trouble, the whistles started blowing in favor of KU in the second half. Missouri got called with 12 fouls in the second half and the Jayhawks finally made the Tigers pay at the free throw line. After going just 10 for their first 20, KU finished the game 12 of 13 at the line.
In overtime, Thomas Robinson put KU up by four, just a minute into the extra period. Denmon nailed a three to cut the lead to one. Denmon would hit another three with :43 left to put the Tigers up 84-83, but Tyshawn Taylor answered with a dunk as Kansas regained the lead. Again, Denmon set himself up to be the hero. He hit an off balance runner at the right of the lane giving Mizzou an 86-85 lead with :12. Taylor was fouled by Phil Pressey and he sank both free throws. Dixon brought the ball up the court with eight seconds to go, dribbled to his left and fired a pass out to the right wing to Denmon, who caught the ball as time expired.
Missouri was lead by Denmon’s 28 points. Ricardo Ratliffe had 22 and Dixon scored 17. Thomas Robinson led KU with 28 and Tyshawn Taylor finished with 24. Jeff Withey was quiet again with two points after getting into early foul trouble and spending most of the first half in the locker room with a injured left ankle.
Kansas improves to 14-2 in the Big 12 and Mizzou drops to 12-4. The best the Tigers can do is tie the Jayhawks for the Big 12 regular season title.
