Rally for Rhyan magic: Mizzou snaps record skids with 83-78 win versus Arkansas

Missouri’s battered fan base has endured NCAA issues, “Outside the Lines” investigations, boycotts and a mountain of losses during the last few years.

That made an 83-78 win Saturday against Arkansas at Mizzou Arena a delightful two-hour group therapy session as the Tigers and an estimated crowd of 8,211 celebrated the second annual Rally for Rhyan benefit game with the first victory in nearly two months.

“It feels so good,” said sophomore guard Cullen VanLeer — who scored 12 points, all in the first half. “The grind that we’ve been going in day in and day out through this rough patch has been difficult. To finally get a win on a day like Rally for Rhyan means a lot to our whole entire program.”

Rally for Rhyan raises money for pediatric cancer research in honor of Mizzou special assistant Brad Loos’ 6-year-old daughter, Rhyan, who was diagnosed with cancer 16 months ago and was discharged Wednesday from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York to attend the festivities. The game raised more than $54,000.

“We matched Rhyan’s fight,” Mizzou coach Kim Anderson said. “The one thing we talked about in the last timeout was, ‘Let’s play to win, guys. Don’t play not to lose.’ … I don’t think we’ve been doing that.”

Rally for Rhyan also become a platform for the Tigers (6-16, 1-9 SEC) to end lengthy losing streaks.

Mizzou snapped a nine-game losing streak by knocking off Tennessee in conjunction with the inaugural Rally for Rhyan benefit game last season.

Anderson and the Tigers rekindled that magic against the Razorbacks (17-6, 6-4 SEC) in ending three program-record losing streaks — a 13-game skid overall, which tied the record set two seasons ago, as well as a 14-game conference slide and a seven-game winless stretch at Mizzou Arena.

“I’m happy for these guys, and it’s a special day obviously,” Anderson said. “(Rhyan’s) 2-0, so we just continue to pray for her and hope that she recovers.”

Missouri led by 13 at halftime — leading 47-34 after shooting 61.5 percent in the first half, including 12 of 16 inside the three-point arc —but Arkansas rallied within a single points at 66-65 with 7:24 remaining.

Rather than wilt, which has been the Tigers’ M.O. in close games the last few seasons, sophomore K.J. Walton scored layups on back-to-back possessions and sophomore guard Terrence Phillips also added a blow-by layup in restoring some breathing room.

“In games past, we wouldn’t have done that, so that’s a big accomplishment for us,” said Walton, who finished with 16 points. “You see how this team has grown, especially after losing by such a large margin last game.”

The signature moment for Mizzou, which lost by 39 points Thursday at Florida, came with 2:16 remaining when sophomore forward Kevin Puryear skied for an offensive rebound, snatching it from Arkansas senior guard Manuale Watkins’ hands and converted an eight-foot jumper for a 78-74 lead.

“They made a run, but we fought the run off,” Anderson said. “We fought back and we hung in there and we were able to make some plays. That shows improvement. Does that mean we’re going to win the rest of our games? No, it doesn’t, but I know our guys feel better. And they should, because through all this deal, this losing streak, man, they’ve come to work every day. I really can’t ask for anything else, so hats off to them. I hope they have a good time tonight — within the limits of the law. I’m going to go have a good time — within the limits of the law.”

VanLeer and Phillips, who dished a game-high six assists, returned to the starting lineup for the first time since late December.

Mizzou inched in front 12-10 during the opening 7  1/2 minutes of a dazzling first half before a 12-0 run opened some breathing room.

VanLeer kicked off the run with a three-pointer and junior forward Jordan Barnett, who scored a team-high 17 off the bench, scored seven during the spurt.

The Tigers’ lead grew as large as 15 points early in the second half when Puryear, who scored 15 with a game-high eight rebounds, drilled a three-pointer at the 15:50 mark for a 60-45 lead.

Less than 8  1/2 minutes later, the Razorbacks had rallied within one point with a 20-6 run.

Seven different Arkansas players scored during the surge, but Mizzou never surrendered the lead.

Asked if he’s surprised perhaps the Tigers’ two best games in the last two seasons were in conjunction with Rally for Rhyan benefits, Brad Loos said, “I don’t think it’s a coincidence. … These kids take it personal. They see what my daughter goes through. They know how hard it is for her, and they really did want to win this game for her.”

Last season, Mizzou actually won two straight games before finishing the season with a five-game slide.

Up next is a trip to Texas A&M on Wednesday.

“I hope they build on this,” Anderson said. “A lot of you guys think I’m crazy, but we’re better than we were. We’re better than we were six weeks ago. We really are. We just haven’t been able to finish games. We haven’t been able to make the plays when we need to make them, and tonight we made them.”

Midway through the first half, sophomore quarterback Drew Lock, junior defensive end Marcell Frazier and junior linebacker Eric Beisel accepted the Battle Line Rivalry trophy for November’s season-ending comeback win against Arkansas on the gridiron.

MISSOURI 83, ARKANSAS 78

TableStyle: SP-bkwideplayersCCI Template: SP-bkwideplayers

Percentages: FG .510, FT .704. Three-Point Goals: 7-16, .438 (Macon 3-6, Hannahs 2-5, Beard 1-1, Watkins 1-1, Barford 0-3). Team Rebounds: 4. Team Turnovers: 17 (15 PTS). Blocked Shots: 1 (Kingsley). Turnovers: 17 (Barford 5, Macon 4, Hannahs 2, Thomas 2, Thompson 2, Beard, Kingsley). Steals: 6 (Barford 2, Thompson 2, Macon, Watkins). Technical Fouls: Kingsley, 8:29 first.

TableStyle: SP-bkwideplayersCCI Template: SP-bkwideplayers

Percentages: FG .509, FT .793. Three-Point Goals: 6-21, .286 (Barnett 2-5, VanLeer 2-6, Puryear 1-2, Walton 1-3, Phillips 0-2, Geist 0-3). Team Rebounds: 3. Team Turnovers: 10 (19 PTS). Blocked Shots: 1 (VanLeer). Turnovers: 10 (Phillips 2, VanLeer 2, Woods 2, Geist, Hughes, Puryear, Walton). Steals: 8 (Phillips 2, Walton 2, Barnett, Geist, VanLeer, Woods). Technical Fouls: None.

Half: Missouri 47-34. Attendance: 11,434.

This story was originally published February 4, 2017 at 7:19 PM with the headline "Rally for Rhyan magic: Mizzou snaps record skids with 83-78 win versus Arkansas."