By R.B. FALLSTROM<, AP Sports Writer
February 21, 2007
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) -- Freshman Keon Lawrence hit the go-ahead basket in the
lane with 47 seconds to go and added four insurance free throws in the final 12
seconds, helping Missouri hold off Oklahoma 72-68 on Tuesday night.
Stefhon Hannah had 16 points and Leo Lyons 14 for the Tigers (17-9, 6-7 Big
12), who have won three in a row for the first time in conference play this
season and four of five overall. Missouri also got 11 points apiece from Keon
and Matt Lawrence.
Michael Neal had 18 points for Oklahoma (15-11, 6-7), which has lost three
in a row overall and four straight against Missouri. The Sooners rallied from an
11-point deficit to take the lead in the second half, but never were ahead by
more than a point.
Keon Lawrence, Missouri's top recruit this season, had a strong finish after
struggling most of the game. He scored nine points in the second half after
missing all five of his shots in the first half.
In the previous four games since cracking the starting lineup, Keon Lawrence
had been averaging 15 points. Missouri is 4-1 since elevating him and demoting
Jason Horton.
Oklahoma lost despite tying its season best for 3-pointers, going 11-for-24,
to compensate for overall 40.7 percent accuracy. Neal had four 3-pointers and
David Godbold and Austin Johnson had three each.
Nate Carter added 12 points and seven rebounds, and Godbold had 10 points.
Keon Lawrence's turnaround jumper near the free throw line put Missouri
ahead 66-64 with 47 seconds left, the 10th lead change of the half. He hit two
free throws with 12.6 seconds left for a 70-65 lead, then another pair with 3.3
seconds to go after Johnson's 3-pointer had cut the deficit to two.
Oklahoma is 1-6 in conference play on the road, and 0-9 when trailing at
halftime.
Missouri was at a point-a-minute pace for the first 10 minutes, finally
getting the offense in gear on a 12-0 run that turned a six-point deficit into a
28-22 lead with 3:36 to go in the half. Hannah and Matt Lawrence hit consecutive
3-pointers in the flurry, and the Tigers went up by as many as 11 on Lyons' dunk
on a fast break with 44 seconds left before Oklahoma hit a pair of baskets in
the final seven seconds of the half.
Before the late four points, Oklahoma had been limited two a pair of free
throws in nearly seven minutes. The Sooners built on the late momentum early in
the second half, completing a 16-4 run capped by O'Neal's 3-pointer with about
16 minutes left that put the Sooners ahead 40-39.
Updated on Wednesday, Feb 21, 2007 12:06 am, EST
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