MU bounces back from 22-4 deficit, beats Cornhuskers

DALLAS -- With Missouri trailing Nebraska 22-4, center Arthur Johnson wondered how his team would react.

"It was shocking," Johnson said. "I was like, 'What are we going to do -- fold or keep fighting?"'

They fought, all right, with their heavyweight -- Johnson -- landing the hardest blows.

Johnson had 18 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks as Missouri rallied for a 70-61 victory Thursday in the opening round of the Big 12 tournament.

Rickey Paulding added 19 points and 11 rebounds as the Tigers (19-9) improved their chances of making the NCAA tournament for the fourth straight year under coach Quin Snyder. Missouri could really impress the selection committee by beating No. 23 Oklahoma State today.

The Tigers weren't very convincing at the start against the Cornhuskers (11-19), missing their first six shots and eight of nine. Nebraska opened 4-of-5 on 3-pointers to build that 18-point lead.

"We came out really focused, really intense and I think they were on their heels," said Andrew Drevo, who led the Cornhuskers with 21 points and 10 rebounds. "But we knew we couldn't keep them on their heels the whole game."

Snyder remained calm during the poor start. He called only one time out and did nothing more demonstrative than put his hands on his hips.

His patience was rewarded as the Tigers tied the game at 29, then went into halftime down only 33-32 following a 3-pointer by Ricky Clemons at the buzzer.

"I thought we showed a lot being down and not panicking," Snyder said. "We didn't do much differently in the second 10 minutes than we did the first 10 minutes, it was just that our shots went in and their's didn't."

A layup by Paulding less than two minutes into the second half put Missouri ahead for the first time. John Turek put Nebraska back ahead 38-37, but the Cornhuskers could never do more that tie it.

The 6-foot-9, 265-pound Johnson made his presence felt on defense in the first half. He had three blocks during Nebraska's big start, then his fourth was one for the highlight reels as he turned a layup attempt into a line drive at his bench.

He was less active on offense, though, taking just four shots by halftime.

Missouri already was leading 51-47 when Johnson finally took over. He made the Tigers' next five field goals -- including a get-out-of-the-way dunk and a one-handed floater off the backboard -- as the lead grew to 62-48.

"He made one drive where I said, 'Wow!"' Snyder said.

Ricky Clemons had 13 points and Jimmy McKinney scored 11 for Missouri.

Clemons did not play when Oklahoma State beat the Tigers by 20 in Stillwater, Okla. Missouri hopes the move to a neutral court and Clemons' return will help.

"The last time we went down there we were undermanned," Johnson said. "You could say we've got something to prove."

Nebraska shot a season-low .274 percent from the field, making 17-of-62 shots. The Cornhuskers finished 10-of-33 on 3-pointers -- or 6-of-28 after their early hot streak.

"I think we played hard and competed," Drevo said. "Sometimes the shots don't go in. That's just the way it goes, I guess."

Nebraska ended its third year under coach Barry Collier with another dropping win total -- from 14 to 13 to 11. This season ended with three straight losses and 12 of 14. Yet the Cornhuskers lose only one player, Brennon Clemmons, and will get back injured floor leader Jake Muhleisen.

This game was typical of Mizzou's season -- they looked awful in losing to Iowa State by 16 last week, but looked great the week before that in beating No. 6 Oklahoma by 15.

"We've been inconsistent," Snyder said. "It's how you deal with the down periods that ultimately determine if you're successful."

After tying for fifth in the conference, the Tigers are relatively confident of getting an at-large bid into the NCAA field. The Big 12 has gotten six teams in the past three years.

But they came to Dallas having lost two straight and three of five. They were ranked as high as 11th this season, but haven't been in the last four polls.

Missouri improved to 6-0 in the first round of the Big 12 tournament. The Tigers haven't won a second-round game since 1997, when they reached the finals.