Feb. 12, 2003
Final Stats
By MICHAEL A. LUTZ
AP Sports Writer
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Bernard King didn't take the final shot as
planned - but he did just about everything else.
King scored a season-high 29 points and Bradley Jackson scored the go-ahead
basket with 2 seconds to play to lead Texas A&M to a 73-71 win over No. 21
Missouri on Wednesday night.
King made two free throws with 42 seconds left and went to the bench so
excited that he got sick to his stomach. He still came back and stole the
Tigers' inbounds pass as time expired in the game.
"This was a big game. I just wanted to leave it all on the floor," King
said.
The Aggies (12-8, 4-5 Big 12) beat a ranked opponent for the first time
since Jan. 23, 2001, when they defeated No. 24 Texas 80-74.
Missouri's Travon Bryant hit a 3-point basket from the top of the key to tie
the score at 71 with 23 seconds to play. Jackson then drove to the basket and
lofted a short jumper over a crowd of Tigers to give the Aggies the win.
"The play was to get the ball in my hands," King said. "Once I came out
of the pick, three people came out on me. He (Jackson) made the right decision
and went to the basket."
Jackson also saw the play developing.
"The play was supposed to be for Bernard but at the last minute, I saw
everyone running his way so I just went the other way," Jackson said.
"Bernard brought the whole other team to him. That's why I went the other
way."
The Tigers (14-6, 5-4) had one more chance, but King stole an inbounds pass
from Jimmy McKinney to end the game.
"He (King) played his guts out in more ways than one," A&M coach Melvin
Watkins said. "In big games, players have to step up and make plays and he did
that. I just know it's a good win and it keeps us in the running for some of
the things we want to accomplish this year.
"It feels pretty good right now."
Missouri led 37-30 at halftime - its biggest lead of the game - but the
Aggies scored the first nine points of the second half and the teams went back
and forth the rest of the way.
Jackson finished with 10 points. Arthur Johnson led Missouri with 18 points
while Rickey Paulding added 15.
Led by their outside shooters, the Aggies went on a 13-2 run to take a 24-15
lead midway through the first half. King made a basket and then a 3-pointer to
key the spurt while Jackson added another 3-pointer on an assist from King.
Antoine Wright added a 3-pointer and Jesse King hit a basket to complete the
13-2 run.
The Tigers answered with a 22-6 run over the final eight minutes of the
half.
"Obviously, we're very disappointed in the result," Missouri coach Quin
Snyder said. "We started the second half horribly. It's a frustrating game. We
didn't defend in the second half. We should be unbelievably mad at ourselves
right now.
Watkins said he gave his team a stern lecture at the half.
"I challenged them at halftime, probably as bad as I've challenged any team
and they responded," Watkins said.
