Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Tuesday's Shootaround: Missouri survives, Jamil Wilson shines

No. 23 Louisville 80, UConn 59: See here.

No. 4 Missouri 71, Oklahoma 68: This was the epitome of a trap game for the Tigers. They were coming off of an emotional win over Kansas at home -- one that forced Frank Haith to set a 2am curfew -- and have a date with Baylor on the books for Saturday. And in between? A Monday night trip to Norman, OK, for a game that wasn't even high enough profile to get put on ESPN's Big Monday.

That's an easy way to slip up, but luckily for the Tigers, Marcus Denmon has yet to cool off. The senior sharpshooter went for 25 points while Ricardo Ratliffe added 15 points and 10 boards as Mizzou escaped Oklahoma with a win. It wasn't easy, mind you. After fouling Romero Osby with 2.5 seconds left to prevent a potential game-tying three, Osby missed both free throws. But the rebound was tipped back out to Steven Pledger, who missed a wide-open three that would have forced overtime.

The good news for Missouri is that, this season, they have excelled in games that have come down to the final couple of possessions. Four of their last six games have been decided by one possession or less. They've won all four.

No. 19 Marquette 89, DePaul 76: The Blue Demons jumped out to a big lead early in the first half, but Marquette was able to use a 11-2 run to close the first half and draw within three. The Golden Eagles used another surge early in the second half to take the lead and pull away from DePaul. Darius Johnson-Odom had 23 points in the win while Jamil Wilson added 18 points and 10 boards. Wilson also added three assists, two blocks and two steals. That's a good day.

Texas 70, Texas A&M 68: J'Covan Brown had 20 points and Sheldan McClellan added 15 as the Longhorns avoided losing in College Station. The Aggies did have enough juice to make a late run and eventually take the lead in the final minutes, but Brown scored on a driving layup and followed that up with two free throws to put Texas in front for good.

Texas A&M has been as snake-bit as any team in the country this season. Khris Middleton hasn't been healthy all year. Kourtney Roberson is out with a foot injury. Dash Harris is banged up and on the shelf. Throw in the fact that Billy Kennedy is dealing with Parkinson's Disease, and the circumstances couldn't be much worse. Considering that, the fact that the Aggies are still this competitive in the Big 12 is impressive. BK will be just fine with the Aggies.


Other notable scores:

- Stony Brook 57, New Hampshire 48
- Vermont 73, Maine 63
- Davidson 76, Wofford 54
- Mercer 54, East Tennessee State 46
- Belmont 94, Austin Peay 55
- Montana 76, Idaho State 40

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