MISSOURI 62, KANSAS 60

Photo Gallery

Kansas Basketball vs. Missouri

Photo gallery of basketball game against Missouri, Monday, Feb. 9, 2009, at Mizzou Arena.

Game Over

In a finish befitting the hype surrounding this game, Zaire Taylor hit a jump shot with less than two second remaining to win a thrilling 62-60 game over Kansas.

Fans stormed the court and the celebration didn't subside for several minutes as the Missouri fans and players jumped on the court.

The game looked like it would go to overtime when Taylor's shot bounced off the rim, but it stayed true and dropped through the net to hand Kansas its first Big 12 defeat.

Check back to Kansan.com for full coverage of this game, including "Blog" Allen, The Jay Report and stories.

KANSAS 56, MISSOURI 51

3:49 left in the second half

This one will come down to the final minute, and that's the way it should be.

It's an ugly and sloppy affair, but both teams are diving to the ground after every loose ball and the desire to win is apparent in every play.

Missouri's DeMarre Carroll has completely taken over offensively, hitting 7-of-11 shots for 20 points. He's also got six rebounds, but he hasn't been able to keep Aldrich off the glass. The sophomore has 14 boards.

The Tigers are just one three-pointer away from breaking this game open, but I'm not sure that they have it in them.

KANSAS 54, MISSOURI 43

7:57 left in the second half

The roof was about to blow off Mizzou Arena. And who kept it on? Travis Releford.

After proving he deserved some more playing time against Oklahoma State, Releford has had a stellar evening against Missouri. He's got nine points and two rebounds. His last shot, a driving layup in the lane, killed Missouri's momentum. The subsequent free throw also quieted the crowd.

KANSAS 46, MISSOURI 35

11:41 left in the second half

Kansas' turnovers continue to pile up and it's giving Missouri ample opportunity to climb back into this game.

The Jays now have 18 turnovers thanks to some silly passes in the backcourt.

However, Kansas is still dominating the glass with a 37-17 advantage.

KANSAS 39, MISSOURI 27

15:50 left in the second half

Looks like we may have a game after all.

All the ability and athleticism that Missouri lacked in the first half was on display in the early goings of the second half. Kim English and DeMarre Carroll have jacked up this Mizzou Arena crowd.

Of course, Sherron Collins was also there to sit them down. Collins' was due to break out after a terrible first half. He already has five second-half points.

KANSAS 30, MISSOURI 16

Halftime

Right now Missouri couldn't hit a shot if it fell into a shooting gallery.

The Tigers are an abysmal 7-of-29 from the field and 1-of-10 behind the three-point line. at 2-of-12 Kansas isn't much better beyond the arc, but at least the Jays are hanging in there with 36 percent from the floor.

Collins is still just 2-of-8 and 0-of-4 on threes, but the rest of the team rose up over the last 12 minutes to close the half on a 20-5 run.

I never would have thought either of these teams would close the first half with just 16 points, but it just happened.

A big reason for Missouri's low point total is the fact that Kansas is out-rebounding them 30-15. Aldrich already is halfway to his career-high with nine first half boards.

Well, the Jays pulled off their gloves and slapped the Tigers in the face. With a home crowd behind them the Tigers can still get back into this game, but they have to start hitting some treys.

KANSAS 26, MISSOURI 15

3:22 left in the first half

Travis Releford proved worthy of quality minutes in Saturday's game against Oklahoma State. Tonight he looks more like a crafty veteran than a little-used freshman.

He's got four points in four minutes and he would of had an assist if Markieff Morris hadn't botched the layup.

Collins still isn't doing much, but it doesn't seem to matter as everyone has stepped up in their own way. Missouri has been chucking up ugly threes while Kansas is currently on a 16-4 run.

KANSAS 22, MISSOURI 13

7:39 left in the first half

Thanks to some hustle and a sweet stroke from Tyrel Reed, Kansas is on a 12-2 run.

Reed's been all over the court. He's drilled a couple of threes. He's got a couple of rebounds. And on one play he saved a Kansas possession by diving out of bounds and tossing the ball off a Missouri defender.

While Collins is a dismal 2-of-8 so far, the rest of the Jays are a combined 8-of-12.

MISSOURI 11, KANSAS 10

11:44 left in the first half

After a painstakingly slow start things have heated up a bit in Mizzou Arena.

Both teams have found their stroke a little bit. They've also discovered that they don't like each other too much as Sherron Collins and Missouri's J.T. Tiller got in a shoving match after the Tigers' called a timeout.

Kansas coach Bill Self broke up the scuffle, but something tells me there's more of that to come as the game grinds on.

KANSAS 2, MISSOURI 2

15:47 left in the first half

That first four minutes was as ugly as basketball gets.

Seven total turnovers and a combined 2-of-10 shooting lowlighted the start of this game. I've got to think that both teams will settle down and make some shots eventually, but man...I really hope it's soon. That was tough to watch.

Also, they just dropped a bunch of foam fingers from the rafters into the student section. They seem to love dropping things from the sky here in Columbia.

8:05 p.m.

Prediction time.

I was just one point off of Saturday's game as Oklahoma State screwed up my 78-68 prediction by falling one point shy. No matter. I now have more confidence in my prognosticating skills and tonight I'm going against what I've felt all week and picking the Jays.

In a game this close, it makes sense to go with the home team. Especially when that team is beating the crap out of teams on its home court.

Alas, a new gut feeling is leading me towards Kansas and I don't go against my guts. Look for the Jays to pull out a close one with a comeback in the last five minutes.

Mark me down for Kansas 84, Missouri 79.

8:00 p.m.

It's pretty hard to compete with Kansas' epic pregame highlight video, but Missouri may have topped it tonight.

Ten minutes before tipoff, the lights flipped off and the PA announcer instructed everyone to look to the sky. Waiting in the rafters high above scoreboard and even higher above the court was Mizzou mascot Truman the Tigers.

The local fire department rigged him up and slowly lowered him to the court, much to the bemusement of everyone in attendance. It doesn't really fit with traditional basketball, but the stunt was pretty entertaining nonetheless.

7:50 p.m.

Mizzou Arena is starting to fill to the rafters with gold and a small sprinkling of crimson and blue.

This is the most anticipated game of the Big 12 season for Kansas and the entire season for Missouri. Just ask Mizzou forward Leo Lyons, who this game the Tigers' "national championship."

While that mentality doesn't bode well for the rest of the season, it may be the difference in tonight's game.

Missouri is playing great basketball of late, especially at home, where the Tigers average margin of victory is 28.5. This is easily the most talented team to come to Mizzou Arena this year, but you still have to like how well the Tigers play at home.