Columbia, Mo. ? Using a well-worn baseball analogy, the Big Eight basketball race, “ain’t over ’til it’s over.”
That’s not good grammar, but it could serve as Kansas’ motto the rest of the conference season.
“They were a little bit in the driver’s seat before the game. They’re really in the driver’s seat now, but we’re not halfway through yet,” KU coach Roy Williams said after the Jayhawks’ 79-67 loss to the Tigers on Monday night at the Hearnes Center.
The defeat dropped the three-time defending champion Jayhawks two full games behind the Tigers in the league chase.
“In baseball, they play the All-Star Game. They don’t crown the American League champs before that. Hopefully, we’ll come back the second half and be able to have a meaningful game at our place,” Williams said.
The Jayhawks, 19-3 overall and 4-2 in the league, will meet the Tigers (15-2, 6-0) again on Feb. 20 at Allen Fieldhouse.
It’s safe to say Kansas will have to shoot better next time.
KU hit 23 of 60 shots for 38.3 percent. It marked just the second time all season KU has dipped below 40 percent. The other time? During KU’s 73-59 home loss to Temple.
“One thing that sticks out, their defense was better than our defense. They challenged every shot, every pass, every dribble,” Williams said.
KU hit just four of 18 three-point tries, while MU wasn’t much better at two of 13. Overall, the Tigers, who had five players in double figures — Melvin Booker led the way with 16 points — hit 25 of 60 shots for 41.7 percent.
“In the first half, Greg (Ostertag) missed a layup, Patrick (Richey) missed one, Richard (Scott) missed one, Sean (Pearson) missed one,” Williams lamented. “We had six shots in the lane and missed five of the six. We didn’t do a good job of shooting the ball, but give credit to their defense.”
Still, KU lagged just 18-16 with 7:48 left in the first half. Paul O’Liney hit a three, Kelly Thames dunked and Lamont Frazier (11 points the first half, 13 overall) scored, giving MU a 25-16 lead.
KU closed the half strong, however, and trailed, 34-29, at the break.
“I felt good being five down, considering how we played,” Williams said. “Then we came out and made a run the second half.”
Indeed, Kansas spurted 11-2 to open the second half and grabbed a 40-36 lead at 16:53. Steve Woodberry, who scored a game-high 19 on seven-of-16 shooting, had five points in that stretch.
“We were aggressive, active in the lanes, had steals and got back in the basketball game,” Williams said.
However, Missouri regrouped quickly. The Tigers, led by Kelly Thames and O’Liney, who combined for 11 points, went on a 19-6 run and led, 55-46, at 10:45.
KU did cut the gap to 61-55 at 7:08, but the Tigers went on another 10-2 burst to put it away.
“We made that run. It was the only time in the game we were more active than they were. But they never got frustrated. You’d think there’d have been some kind of alarm, but there wasn’t. They kept their composure,” Williams noted.
It was suggested KU was hurt by Richard Scott’s nagging shoulder injury. He scored six points and had six boards in 24 minutes.
“That would be using an excuse,” Williams said. “If he’s healthy enough to play, he plays like everybody else. If not, I shouldn’t play him.”
Williams also didn’t buy into another theory that KU was tired after playing Colorado on Saturday in Boulder. MU had a week to prepare for the game.
“I was concerned about it, but Missouri did it a week ago and it didn’t affect them,” Williams said, noting the Tigers beat Oklahoma State and Nebraska in road games last Saturday and Monday.
“The key to the game was their defense,” Williams said. “Their defense stopped us and we didn’t stop them.”
Next for the Jayhawks is Nebraska at 12:30 p.m. Sunday at Allen Fieldhouse.
