Nothing to brag about
ST. LOUIS – For Missouri, Wednesday was a night 10 years in the making.
The Tigers defeated Illinois 81-68 in the 29th Annual Braggin’ Rights game to earn their first victory in the series since 1999.
For Illinois, Wednesday was a night that will simmer. The Illini already were searching their souls after Saturday’s loss to Georgia. Now, they are a team in need of more answers as they get ready for their Big Ten schedule.
“They set the tone right from the beginning,” Illinois coach Bruce Weber said. “I thought the first three minutes they really took it to us. They had us on our heels. I don’t know if we ever recovered. A couple of times we tied it, but it always seemed like they had control of the game.”
The Illini (8-4) committed 22 turnovers against Missouri’s up-tempo defense, and whenever the Illini gained even a small amount of momentum, Missouri (8-3) had an answer.
Marcus Denman hit a pair of 3-point baskets and the Tigers crashed the offensive glass to turn a seven-point halftime lead into a 59-46 advantage with 12 minutes, 16 seconds left.
Illinois fought back with a 9-2 run that included seven straight points from Mike Tisdale. But Wednesday did not inspire a magical comeback for the Illini like the night they came back at Clemson earlier this season.
Missouri’s Kim English led all scorers with 24 points, his most important basket coming on a 3-pointer with his team up just six and the game hanging precariously in the balance with 5:44 to play. And on Missouri’s next possession, English drove the lane, hung in the air before releasing the ball at the last possible moment and hit a shot to put Missouri up 11. The Illini couldn’t respond.
“We came out and didn’t do anything right,” Demetri McCamey said. “They were getting dribble penetration, we didn’t box out, they outfought us and gave it to us.”
The opening seconds had all the makings of another disastrous first half like the one against Clemson. On Missouri’s first possession, English hit a 3-pointer and immediately the Tigers set up in their full-court pressure. Freshman D.J. Richardson got a hearty welcome to the rivalry when the Tigers’ pressure forced him into a turnover. Missouri converted and grabbed a 5-0 lead.
On Illinois’ next possession, Richardson was whistled for an offensive foul.
After some back and forth, the Tigers took advantage of the game’s lightning quick pace and went on an 11-1 run late in the half to take a 12-point lead. After Weber called a timeout, Brandon Paul scored the final five points of the half to close the gap to 41-34.
