Tigers Sink Cyclones In Big 12 Opener
Jan. 8, 2005
By R.B. FALLSTROM COLUMBIA, Mo. - Jimmy McKinney scored four points in the final 27
seconds, helping Missouri overcome a 12-minute span without a basket in a wild
62-59 victory over Iowa State in a Big 12 opener on Saturday. Jason Conley had 13 points, Linas Kleiza had 12 points and nine rebounds and
Jason Horton had 12 points for Missouri (9-5, 1-0 Big 12). The Tigers endured a
28-4 Iowa State run that transformed a 12-point lead into a 12-point deficit
with 4:34 to go, then ended the game on a 17-2 run. McKinney, who had 10 points, scored on a spinning shot in the lane with 27
seconds left to put Missouri ahead for good at 60-59 although he missed a
chance at a three-point play. He added two free throws with 13 seconds left. Iowa State (8-4, 0-1) had two chances in the final seconds. Curtis Stinson
turned it over near the Cyclones' bench with 16.8 seconds to go and reserve
John Neal missed a 3-pointer with one second left. Stinson had 22 points for Iowa State, which has lost 26 straight Big 12 road
games dating to February 2001. Will Blalock added 12 points, five assists and
four steals. Iowa State is 0-4 on the road this season. Missouri won its eighth straight conference home opener and its fifth in six
games overall despite committing 20 turnovers, one off their season worst,
against Iowa State's sticky zone defense. At times during the drought, the
Tigers struggled just to get a shot off. Missouri led by as many as 13 points early in the second half before going
cold. The Tigers led 41-29 after Horton hit in the lane with 16:36 to go, and
he made the next one a 3-pointer with 4:04 left that started Missouri's final
run. Stinson had nine points during the lengthy run and Staple had six, one
coming on the third shot of a possession. Before the game, Iowa State suspended backup forward Reggie George indefinitely for violating team policy. George is one of the team's top inside reserves. |
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