WACO, Texas It all happened so fast. A 12-point lead had shriveled to three, a sellout crowd of 10,617 was going bonkers, and Missouri senior guard Marcus Denmon — one of the Tigers’ most reliable shooters — had just missed the first of two potentially game-clinching free throws.Denmon knew if he missed the next one, Baylor would likely get the ball with 4 seconds left and a chance to tie the score. Make it, and Missouri would clinch its biggest road win in years.“It was loud as it could get in the arena,” said Denmon, a 93-percent free-throw shooter. “I pride myself on making free throws, and this was a time when you need to make free throws the most.”Fortunately for Missouri, he did. Baylor wound up making a last-second three, and Denmon’s free throw was the difference in the No. 5 Tigers’ 89-88 win over the third-ranked Bears on Saturday at the Ferrell Center.It was, to be sure, the last in a series of clutch plays the Tigers needed to improve to 18-1 overall, 5-1 in the Big 12 and make the following statement before a nationally televised audience: Despite a lack of height and a lack of depth, you’d better not count this Missouri team out.Ever.“We’ve got guys that have been through wars,” Denmon said. “We understand what it takes to win games.”Even in a hostile environment (Saturday’s game was the first advance sellout in Baylor men’s basketball history) and against a team with size (the Bears feature five players in the rotation who stand 6 feet 7 or taller) and NBA-caliber talent (forward Perry Jones III and Quincy Miller are potential lottery picks).“It’s about how much you want it,” Denmon said. “We’ve got a group of guys that are hungry and want it more than the teams we play.” This was evident as the smaller Tigers — who only go seven deep and play two players 6-8 or taller — outhustled, outplayed and out-toughed the Bears, who dropped to 17-2 and 4-2.“Our guys showed tremendous poise down the stretch,” Missouri coach Frank Haith said. “Throughout the game we played with great toughness, which you have to have to win on the road.”And while it was Denmon that ultimately drove the stake through the Bears’ heart, nobody played with more toughness than senior post player Ricardo Ratliffe, who scored a career-high 27 points and had eight rebounds.Ratliffe set the tone in the first half, when he scored 15 points, grabbed six rebounds and teamed with fellow senior forward Steve Moore to defend the rim and help the Tigers embarrass a bigger Baylor team on the boards 21-11 — including 10-3 on the offensive glass — by halftime. The Tigers won the rebound battle for the game as well, 32-26.Missouri, which led 39-35 at the half, maintained its edge throughout most of the second half, though Baylor pulled within 60-58 with 12:30 left. That’s when the Tigers went on an 11-0 run, thanks to the play of Ratliffe and sophomore point guard Phil Pressey, who finished with 18 points, seven assists, six steals and five rebounds.Ratliffe kicked it off with two consecutive baskets, and Pressey picked the pocket of Baylor’s star guard Pierre Jackson — who finished with 20 points and 15 assists — and took it coast-to-coast for a layup that gave Missouri a 66-58 lead.On Missouri’s next possession, Pressey found Ratliffe near the basket for another layup, then added a free throw that made the score 69-60. Another basket by Ratliffe extended Missouri’s lead to 11 with 6:30 left. Baylor fought back with a late flurry — the Bears scored 17 points over the last 2 minutes of the game. But the Tigers held on by going 10 of 12 from the free-throw line over the final minute, including five by Denmon, who had 15 points. Missouri won its first regular-season game over a team ranked No. 3 or higher since 2003 and its first on the road over a top-10 team in the Big 12.Haith said the Tigers’ past Big 12 road experiences this season — a close win against Iowa State and a blowout loss to Kansas State — laid the foundation for Saturday’s victory, because they learned how to go out and compete.Denmon, of course, agreed. “I heard a lot of issues or questions about (our) size,” Denmon said. “Instead of can’ts, we just focused on what we can do. And we came out against a really good Baylor team and got a win on the road.”

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No. 5 MU makes statement with win at No. 3 Baylor

By TEREZ A. PAYLOR

The Kansas City Star

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WACO, Texas -- It all happened so fast. A 12-point lead had shriveled to three, a sellout crowd of 10,617 was going bonkers, and Missouri senior guard Marcus Denmon — one of the Tigers’ most reliable shooters — had just missed the first of two potentially game-clinching free throws.

Denmon knew if he missed the next one, Baylor would likely get the ball with 4 seconds left and a chance to tie the score. Make it, and Missouri would clinch its biggest road win in years.

“It was loud as it could get in the arena,” said Denmon, a 93-percent free-throw shooter. “I pride myself on making free throws, and this was a time when you need to make free throws the most.”

Fortunately for Missouri, he did. Baylor wound up making a last-second three, and Denmon’s free throw was the difference in the No. 5 Tigers’ 89-88 win over the third-ranked Bears on Saturday at the Ferrell Center.

It was, to be sure, the last in a series of clutch plays the Tigers needed to improve to 18-1 overall, 5-1 in the Big 12 and make the following statement before a nationally televised audience: Despite a lack of height and a lack of depth, you’d better not count this Missouri team out.

Ever.

“We’ve got guys that have been through wars,” Denmon said. “We understand what it takes to win games.”

Even in a hostile environment (Saturday’s game was the first advance sellout in Baylor men’s basketball history) and against a team with size (the Bears feature five players in the rotation who stand 6 feet 7 or taller) and NBA-caliber talent (forward Perry Jones III and Quincy Miller are potential lottery picks).

“It’s about how much you want it,” Denmon said. “We’ve got a group of guys that are hungry and want it more than the teams we play.”

This was evident as the smaller Tigers — who only go seven deep and play two players 6-8 or taller — outhustled, outplayed and out-toughed the Bears, who dropped to 17-2 and 4-2.

“Our guys showed tremendous poise down the stretch,” Missouri coach Frank Haith said. “Throughout the game we played with great toughness, which you have to have to win on the road.”

And while it was Denmon that ultimately drove the stake through the Bears’ heart, nobody played with more toughness than senior post player Ricardo Ratliffe, who scored a career-high 27 points and had eight rebounds.

Ratliffe set the tone in the first half, when he scored 15 points, grabbed six rebounds and teamed with fellow senior forward Steve Moore to defend the rim and help the Tigers embarrass a bigger Baylor team on the boards 21-11 — including 10-3 on the offensive glass — by halftime. The Tigers won the rebound battle for the game as well, 32-26.

Missouri, which led 39-35 at the half, maintained its edge throughout most of the second half, though Baylor pulled within 60-58 with 12:30 left. That’s when the Tigers went on an 11-0 run, thanks to the play of Ratliffe and sophomore point guard Phil Pressey, who finished with 18 points, seven assists, six steals and five rebounds.

Ratliffe kicked it off with two consecutive baskets, and Pressey picked the pocket of Baylor’s star guard Pierre Jackson — who finished with 20 points and 15 assists — and took it coast-to-coast for a layup that gave Missouri a 66-58 lead.

On Missouri’s next possession, Pressey found Ratliffe near the basket for another layup, then added a free throw that made the score 69-60. Another basket by Ratliffe extended Missouri’s lead to 11 with 6:30 left.

Baylor fought back with a late flurry — the Bears scored 17 points over the last 2 minutes of the game. But the Tigers held on by going 10 of 12 from the free-throw line over the final minute, including five by Denmon, who had 15 points. Missouri won its first regular-season game over a team ranked No. 3 or higher since 2003 and its first on the road over a top-10 team in the Big 12.

Haith said the Tigers’ past Big 12 road experiences this season — a close win against Iowa State and a blowout loss to Kansas State — laid the foundation for Saturday’s victory, because they learned how to go out and compete.

Denmon, of course, agreed.

“I heard a lot of issues or questions about (our) size,” Denmon said. “Instead of can’ts, we just focused on what we can do. And we came out against a really good Baylor team and got a win on the road.”