Illini get early present from Missouri
ST. LOUIS -- Sometimes it's a work of art on both sides. Sometimes only one team remembers to pack its paintbrushes.
In this year's version of the Braggin' Rights game, both Illinois and Missouri scrawled unintelligible gibberish all over the Scottrade Center floor.
Until the end, that is, when the same old message was written as clearly as ever:
Merry Christmas, Illinois.
When the Tigers' Keon Lawrence slipped while turning the corner and lost the ball out of bounds as time expired, Illinois came away with a 59-58 victory Saturday night before 21,941.
That's 8 straight wins for Illinois in this annual border war -- tying the record set by the Illini from 1983-90.
This marked the second consecutive year in which the Tigers lost the ball out of bounds when they had the last shot.
"I can't get my mind right right now," Lawrence said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I just know it was my fault, man."
Senior center Shaun Pruitt's putback with 35.6 seconds to go -- on his third try when Illinois battled for four shots as everyone collided under the boards -- provided the game's 10th and final lead change.
The Tigers had three possessions to regain the lead after Pruitt's basket, but they committed 2 turnovers and had a Stefhon Hannah layup rejected by freshman forward Mike Davis.
"This is one of the best Christmas presents you can get, being able to go home over the break and have no worries," said Illinois fifth-year senior forward Brian Randle, who stormed around the floor, hugging teammates and high-fiving fans.
When's the last time Randle enjoyed a win this much?
"Probably Arizona the Final Four year, to be honest," he said. "It feels great to go out on a note like this, because I'm sure I'll never be back in here playing because I'm not playing hockey.
"I think the only other thing I could do was maybe fight, but I really don't want to do that."
Everyone fought virtually from tap to finish in this one, at least after Illinois (7-4) shocked the house by taking a 9-0 lead.
Pruitt (14 points, 8 rebounds) asserted himself immediately in the post, but Missouri (8-4) eventually recovered.
The Tigers caught fire from 3-point range to take a 21-17 lead with 8:25 left in the half, but that's when Illinois' Trent Meacham took over.
In the final eight minutes before the break, Meacham drilled all 3 of his 3-point attempts and a 12-foot runner to give the Illini a 32-31 edge at halftime.
Meacham and Pruitt combined for 21 points before the break, but just 4 in the second half as the game turned into the ultimate grind.
Illinois started fast again and seized a 43-33 lead but then managed just 1 basket over the next eight minutes as the Tigers regained control.
The lead changed hands eight times over the final eight minutes, but the Illini dug deep and surrendered just 1 free throw in the final 4:07 to reclaim the huge Braggin' Rights trophy.
"We needed it," said Illinois coach Bruce Weber, who hardly slept since Thursday's home loss to Miami (Ohio).
"I'm sure Missouri felt they needed it, but we needed it a little worse than they did."