Tigers lose another close game

Loss was MU's third by three points or less this season.

By Ryan Huber

Published Dec. 24, 2007

ST. LOUIS — It was no secret heading into the Braggin' Rights Game at the Scottrade Center that Illinois owned the neutral site court. The Fighting Illini had won seven consecutive games in as many years against the Tigers, including a 73-70 win last year.

But this year, Missouri held a three game winning streak heading into the contest while Illinois was coming off an overtime loss to unranked Miami University in Ohio, a game Illinois coach Bruce Weber said made him physically sick to think about.

There were 21,941 people who watched the full-out brawl. The game was very similar to last year's battle as Missouri fell behind but had possession for the remaining 10 seconds of the game. Again, the Tigers could not construct a play to get a shot off in time, losing the game 59-58.

Sophomore guard Keon Lawrence came off a high screen at the 3-point line, appeared like he was going to pass it before dribbling the ball off his shoe and out of bounds to end the game.

"I guess I won't be bragging this year," MU coach Mike Anderson said after the game. "It's kind of like you've got it in your hands and it's squandered."

But the Tigers were not without their fair share of chances to win the game. The team shot a season low 34.5 percent from the field and hit 12 of 22 free throws. The starters alone shot a combined 11 of 39 from the field and hit three of 11 shots from the line. Anderson said he was quick to put the blame on himself for the way MU (8-4) played.

Personnel issues didn't help as both junior shooting guard Matt Lawrence and senior forward Leo Lyons landed in foul trouble. Lyons, who was guarding the leading scorer on the night, Illini center Shaun Pruitt, fouled out with 1:34 to go. His rebound presence was missed in the final minute as Illinois (7-4) grabbed three offensive boards before Pruitt hit the game winning two-footer with 35 seconds left in regulation.

Matt Lawrence found himself in foul trouble early on and sat most of the first half. He, like the Missouri offense, was slow to put points on the board, not scoring until 14 minutes 20 seconds left in the second half.

The pre-game odds, which favored Missouri, were quickly squandered by a 9-0 Illini run to begin the game. The Tigers finally found the basket 4 minutes 22 seconds into the game. Again, the Tiger offense went cold at the end of the game, failing to score in the final 4 minutes and 7 seconds.

"Our kids did a good job of keeping their focus, which we haven't done in several games that we lost this season," Weber said. "We needed it. I'm sure Missouri felt they needed it, but I think we needed it worse than they did. Our kids found a way to win."

Pruitt, who burned the Tigers on both ends of the court last year, said the Tiger defensive intensity on him was "amazing" this time around.

"They were sending two or three guys at me," he said. "I should have done a better job of squaring up and finding someone open, but I couldn't even see there were so many guys. Our team did a good job of 'togetherness.' It was a good win."