Missouri erases 14-point deficit, beats Kansas

[February 10, 2009]  COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) -- Zaire Taylor hit a 10-footer from just outside the lane with 1.3 seconds to go, capping No. 17 Missouri's comeback from a 14-point halftime deficit in a 62-60 victory over No. 16 Kansas on Monday night.

DeMarre Carroll had 22 points and seven rebounds for the Tigers (21-4, 8-2 Big 12), who won their 16th in a row at home against a bitter border rival that had beaten them five straight times. Fans from a raucous sellout crowd of 15,061 mobbed the floor after Cole Aldrich's desperation shot banged off the backboard at the buzzer as he was being knocked to the floor.

Aldrich had 15 rebounds, five blocked shots and eight points for Kansas (19-5, 8-1), which entered with an eight-game winning streak and as one of only six Division I schools unbeaten in conference play. Tyshawn Taylor added 11 points but leading scorer Sherron Collins was held to nine points, nine below his average, on 4-for-13 shooting.

Missouri called timeout after Mario Little's basket from the baseline tied it with 29 seconds to go, then used almost all the time before Taylor popped free for his second winning shot in three games. Taylor, who finished with only seven points, also got the go-ahead basket in a victory at Texas on Wednesday.

Missouri has won eight of nine, a run that enabled them to crack the Top 25 for the second time this season. The Tigers lasted only one week the first time after getting blown out by Illinois in St. Louis on Dec. 23.

Kansas dominated on the boards, outrebounding Missouri 48-28, but was undone by a season-worst 27 turnovers -- six more than the previous high.

The turnover count helped Missouri win despite season-worst 36.4 percent shooting. The Tigers dug themselves a hole in the first half by shooting only 24 percent.

Kansas led 30-16 at the half, ignoring the pre-game atmosphere that featured Missouri mascot Truman the Tiger being lowered from the rafters in a harness, a throwback to a stunt the school used before every game at the old Hearnes Center. The Jayhawks seized control despite 36-percent shooting, including 2-for-12 from 3-point range and Collins' 2-for-8 start, mostly because they dominated on the boards with a 30-15 advantage.

Missouri's first-half scoring was a season low, two points fewer than in the Big 12 opener at Nebraska, with the frustration capped when freshman Marcus Denmon blew a pair of free throws with 8.7 seconds to go.

[Associated Press; By R.B. FALLSTROM]

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