SB Nation Kansas City - Mizzou Wins Braggin' Rights Over Illinois, 75-64https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48935/kc-fave.png2010-12-23T01:23:33-06:00http://kansascity.sbnation.com/rss/stream/16552982010-12-23T01:23:33-06:002010-12-23T01:23:33-06:00Braggin' Rights: Missouri Tigers Pull Away From Illinois In Final Minute, 75-64
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<p>Missouri has braggin' rights once again. The Tigers beat Illinois on Wednesday night in St. Louis, 75-64, but the score isn't indicative of the type of game this was. The two were tied in the final minute but Mizzou scored eight points in nine seconds thanks to <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/52474/laurence-bowers">Laurence Bowers</a> and an intentional foul.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/52472/marcus-denmon">Marcus Denmon</a> added 15 for Mizzou and Bowers finished with 13 points and nine board. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/26147/justin-safford">Justin Safford</a> tallied 11 points while Michael Dixon returned from suspension to score 10 points and six assists coming off the bench.</p>
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<p>"It felt amazing to come back in this type of atmosphere," Dixon said. "I've never lost to Illinois and I don't plan on losing to them ever."</p>
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<p>Dixon was suspended last week for a violation of team rules. With <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/123927/phil-pressey">Phil Pressey</a> absent with a broken finger, Dixon's return came in handy. Missouri had five total players in double digits in what was truly a team effort. The Tigers have now won two in a row against Illinois after dropping nine in a row before that. This means that guys like Dixon, a sophomore, have never lost to Illinois.</p>
<p>Illinois head coach Bruce Weber <a href="http://scores.espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=303560142">didn't sound too happy</a> in the post-game after one intentional foul late in the game.</p>
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<p>"There's so many intentional fouls at the end of the game, it just puts everybody in a bind," Weber said. "He probably made the right call but it's not a good rule in my opinion. There's 1,000 of them in the game and they didn't call them."</p>
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<p>Can't blame the refs without getting in trouble? Blame the rule.</p>
<p>Mizzou, ranked No. 9, moves to 11-1 on the season. Illinois, No. 21, drops their second consecutive game.</p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/missouri-tigers/2010/12/23/1892996/braggin-rights-missouri-tigers-illinois-laurence-bowersJoel Thorman2010-12-22T08:04:38-06:002010-12-22T08:04:38-06:00Missouri Vs. Illinois, Braggin' Rights: Michael Dixon In, Phil Pressey Out For Tigers
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/teams/missouri-tigers">Missouri Tigers</a> will welcome back Michael Dixon to the lineup on Wednesday night when they play Illinois in St. Louis. Dixon was suspended last week for violating team rules and his return comes at a good time. That's because <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/123927/phil-pressey">Phil Pressey</a> will miss the game -- and a few weeks more. The Tigers guard broke his finger and is expected to miss about two weeks.</p>
<p>Mizzou, ranked No. 9 in the latest AP poll, is a 1.5 point underdog against the Illini, who are ranked No. 21, in St. Louis. It's a huge game for both sides. Illinois' track record this year includes a loss (Texas) and a victory (Gonzaga) against teams in the top 25. They're coming off of a loss to Illinois-Chicago so obviously they're looking to get back on track.</p>
<p>Missouri has lost one time this year -- in overtime to Georgetown. Illinois can expect 40 minutes of from everyone on Mizzou's team so they're always a <a href="http://www.centredaily.com/2010/12/21/2415516/illini-tigers-prep-for-braggin.html">frustrating team to play</a>.</p>
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<div style="overflow: hidden; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; border: medium none;">"We've got to be pretty sharp, we have to continue to get efficient offensively, ball movement, people movement," head coach Mike Anderson said. "Our bench is going to be pivotal."<span><br><br></span>
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<p>For Mizzou, key players include <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/52472/marcus-denmon">Marcus Denmon</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-basketball/players/123930/ricardo-ratliffe">Ricardo Ratliffe</a>. Dixon will need to be worked back into the lineiup as well. For Illinois, the key name would be DemetriMcCamey.</p>
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<div style="overflow: hidden; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; border: medium none;">McCamey entered his name in the 2010 NBA draft before deciding to return for his senior season and is also averaging 7.2 assists and shooting 51 percent from 3-point range. In the Illinois-Chicago loss, he became the sixth player in Big Ten history with at least 1,400 points and 600 assists.<span><br><br></span>
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<p>Mizzou is 10-1 on the season so this would be a huge early win for them on a neutral court.</p>
<p>Check out Rock M Nation for more on the game.</p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/2010/12/22/2326788/missouri-vs-illinois-braggin-rights-michael-dixon-in-phil-pressey-outJoel Thorman