Tigers turn up the heat in second half

Taylor's game-winning shot gave MU a comeback win against KU.

By Lenny Goldman

Published Feb. 10, 2009

Going into halftime Monday night Missouri trailed Kansas by 14 points and hadn't made a shot for more than seven minutes. Fortunately for the Tigers, they chose the right half to end a cold streak.

The Jayhawks nearly topped the Tigers' first half drought by making only one basket in the final eight minutes of the game. That was 1.3 seconds too long.

For the second time this season junior guard Zaire Taylor had the ball in his hands with the game clock winding down and the score tied. Just like he did against Texas, Taylor found an opening in the lane, penetrated and hit the game-winning jumper.

"I got a pump fake and an open look and I was able to knock it down," Taylor said. "Really I just feel like it's a blessing to play on a stage like this. It's amazing."

Missouri did what it had to throughout the final stretch to overcome early struggles and beat the No. 16 Kansas Jayhawks 62-60.

"We like to say that the last 10 minutes of the game are our game," senior guard J.T. Tiller said. "When they're bleeding we like to put our foot on their neck."

The Tigers entertained 15,061 fans Monday night in a sold-out Mizzou Arena. Despite a miserable first half in which Missouri shot 24 percent from the field and was lacking in rebounds 35-15, the Tigers provided the late spark coach Mike Anderson's troop needed.

"We got to give them a reason to come," Anderson said. "And when they come we got to give them a reason to stay. I don't think they went home disappointed tonight."

Both teams didn't seem quite ready for the atmosphere, coming out with some early jitters. After 3:30 of scoreless basketball, Kansas finally broke the ice with a fast-break dunk by freshman guard Tyshawn Taylor.

With the door open, both teams began to exchange buckets and things remained close for the first 10 minutes.

Eventually Kansas sophomore guard Tyrel Reed opened things up with his second 3-pointer of the night. The shot gave KU a 22-13 lead with eight minutes remaining in the half.

"The first half, that wasn't our basketball team," Anderson said. "You contribute that to Kansas. They did a good job defensively and dominated the boards."

But during the second half, Missouri's pressure defense wore on Kansas, who gave up a season-high 27 turnovers.

"You're talking about the defending national champions and they come here and you force them to 27 turnovers," Anderson said. "I just feel like our guys wanted that game and they found a way."

The defense was relentless in the second half. Taylor and senior guard J.T. Tiller held Kansas high scorer, junior guard Sherron Collins, to nine points.

"I was always used to being the best defensive player on the team I played on. I don't know if I can say that anymore," Taylor said, referring to Tiller.

Looking at the stat sheet, Tiller appeared to have a rough night. He grabbed four steals and four rebounds, but only hit one shot, the right one.

With 51 seconds left in regulation, Tiller pumped, drove and nailed a floater to set Missouri up for the victory with a 60-58 lead.

"To hit one field goal, that's the field goal I like to hit," Tiller said. "If you're a leader you can't be afraid to make the plays."

The Tigers will carry more momentum than ever before this season and a No. 17 ranking into Saturday's home game against Nebraska, who they lost to on the road earlier this season.