March 13, 2003
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By JAIME ARON
AP Sports Writer
DALLAS - Arthur Johnson powered his way to 18 points, 12 rebounds and
five blocks as Missouri overcame an early 18-point deficit to beat Nebraska
70-61 Thursday in the opening round of the Big 12 tournament.
Rickey Paulding added 19 points and 11 rebounds as the Tigers, hoping to
make the NCAA tournament for the fourth straight year under coach Quin Snyder,
improved to 19-9. Missouri could really impress the selection committee by
beating No. 23 Oklahoma State on Friday.
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 and led 22-4.
The Cornhuskers stayed outside because they didn't want any part of the
6-foot-9, 265-pound Johnson, who had three blocks during the opening stretch.
His fourth was one for the highlight reels as he turned a layup attempt into a
line drive over the head of a teammate on the bench.
Johnson's offense came alive midway through the second half. He hit five
straight Missouri field goals as the Tigers turned a 51-47 lead into a 62-48
rout. On the last two, he had a powerful dunk and a one-handed floater off the
backboard.
Ricky Clemons had 13 points and Jimmy McKinney scored 11 for Missouri.
Andrew Drevo had 21 points and 10 rebounds to lead Nebraska. Nate Johnson
was the only other scorer in double-digits with 12, including three 3-pointers.
The Cornhuskers finished 10-of-33 on 3-pointers - or 6-of-28 after their early
hot streak. They shot only a season-low .274 percent from the field, making
17-of-62 shots.
Snyder remained calm during his team's early collapse. 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.
A layup by Paulding less than two minutes into the second half put Missouri
ahead for the first time. John Turek answered, putting Nebraska back ahead
38-37. It was the last time the Cornhuskers led, although they did tie it
twice.
The Cornhuskers ended their third year under coach Barry Collier with their
win total continuing to drop - from 14 to 13 to 11. They closed this season
losing two straight and 12 of 14. Yet Nebraska loses only one player, Brennon
Clemmons, and will get back injured floor-leader Jake Muhleisen.
The Tigers, seeded fifth in this tournament, are relatively confident of
getting an at-large bid into the NCAA field because the Big 12 has gotten six
teams in the past three years.
However, they came in 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.
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.
The Tigers haven't had any problems with Nebraska under Snyder, winning
eight of the nine meetings including all three this season.
Although Missouri is now 6-0 in the first round of the Big 12 tournament, it
hasn't won a second-round game since 1997 when it got to the finals.
This was the fourth straight year the Cornhuskers lost in the first round of
the conference tournament.
