Missouri 83, MU 79
Mar. 22, 2009 6:42 p.m.
Boise, Idaho -- What a heartbreaking, crazy way for a season to end.
The Marquette Golden Eagles saw their dreams of a Sweet 16 appearance dashed in the closing seconds of what turned out to be an 83-79 loss to the Missouri Tigers in front of a mostly incredulous crowd of 12,184 at Taco Bell Arena on Sunday afternoon.
Sixth-seeded MU (25-10) was tied with third-seeded Missouri (30-6), 79-79, with time winding down when Tigers guard J.T. Tiller was fouled driving to the basket with 5.5 seconds remaining.
Tiller landed hard and, claiming he'd suffered an injury to what appeared to be his right (shooting) wrist, was removed from the game.
A 75.9% free-throw shooter on the season and 4 for 6 to that point, he left and, by rule was able to be replaced by freshman guard Kim English, who came in at 68.0% on the year and having not attempted a free throw on the day.
English sank both, giving the Tigers an 81-79 lead.
Then on the ensuing inbounds, Lazar Hayward stepped over the end line while trying to inbound the ball to Maurice Acker, who was being hounded by a couple Tigers defenders. With no alternative but to foul, the Golden Eagles hacked Leo Lyons on Missouri's inbounds.
Lyons, a 75.3% free-throw shooter who was 4 for 6 to that point, hit both. MU got the ball to Acker on the inbounds and he worked his way to the top of the key where he appeared to be fouling shooting a three-pointer, but no whistle was blown.
Eventually Missouri inbounded the ball, and the Tigers had avenged their 2003 overtime loss to the Golden Eagles in the second round in Indianapolis.
McNeal scored 30 points, tying his personal high, to lead MU. Wesley Matthews scored 24 points and Hayward 13 to go along with 11 rebounds.
The Golden Eagles shot 38.3% for the game but helpd themselves by going 28 for 33 (84.8%) from the free-throw line. They also out-rebounded the Tigers, 41-30, with 16 coming on the offensive end.
Missouri got 18 points from Lyons, 16 from Matt Lawrence, 15 from DeMarre Carroll and 10 from Tiller.
The Tigers shot 48.4%
Dominic James wound up playing just 17 minutes, including just four in the second half, and went scoreless.
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