Missouri Upsets Gonzaga, 63-61

Missouri missed its last 10 shots from the field and six of its last eight free throws -- and still managed to hang on against its toughest opponent so far.

Jason Conley had 16 points and 13 rebounds and Missouri’s defense limited No. 12 Gonzaga to a season-worst 38% shooting in a 63-61 victory Thursday night at Columbia, Mo.

“Our defense is getting better, that’s all I can say,� Conley said. “It doesn’t matter how long you didn’t score or how long you didn’t get a field goal.

“If you have more points than them, that’s all you need.�

Linas Kleiza added 11 points despite foul trouble for Missouri (7-5), which lost in overtime to Gonzaga last season. Kleiza, Missouri’s leading scorer with a 17-point average, fouled out with 3:29 left.

Missouri, in its first game since losing by six to top-ranked Illinois on Dec. 22, improved to 16-38 against top-25 teams in six seasons under Quin Snyder. This was the Tigers’ first victory over a ranked opponent since they beat Oklahoma State in double-overtime last Feb. 24 at home.

Players felt rallying from a 15-point halftime deficit against Illinois, even in a loss, could be a turning point to a season that had a rocky start.

“I think we learned that if we can play with them, we can play with just about anybody in the country,� Conley said. “Although we did lose that game, it was a big confidence booster for us.�

Ronny Turiaf, who averages a team-leading 19 points for Gonzaga, missed two free throws with a chance to tie it with 8.4 seconds left. Turiaf, battling two ankle injuries, had six points on two of 15 shooting along with nine rebounds.

“I’m supposed to be a leader and I’m supposed to step up and knock down those two free throws,� Turiaf said. “I didn’t. That’s it.�

Turiaf also missed badly on another chance to tie, a driving layup with about three seconds left that banged high off the side of the backboard, and Adam Morrison was short on a three-point attempt at the buzzer. Gonzaga (10-2) had been given another opportunity when Missouri’s Kalen Grimes missed two free throws with 7.6 seconds left.

Coach Mark Few said Turiaf made an “awful� shot.

“We just didn’t realize how much time we had,� Few said. “We could have gotten all the way to the rim. Even Adam had time to set up and shoot.�

Morrison and Missouri guard Jimmy McKinney clashed briefly after the game as fans stormed the court.

“One of their players put his fingers in my face and said a few choice words that I can’t say in the papers,� Morrison said. “I just told him to get his hand out of my face.�

McKinney shrugged off the confrontation. “Just players just talking a little trash,� McKinney said. “That’s all.�

*

No. 1 Illinois 69, Northwestern State 51 -- Luther Head scored 18 points at Las Vegas as the Fighting Illini (13-0) brushed aside the Demons (5-7).

No. 4 North Carolina 107, Cleveland State 64 -- Raymond Felton ran his streak of consecutive three-point baskets to 12 and finished with 13 points and eight assists at Chapel Hill, N.C., as the Tar Heels (11-1) routed the Vikings (3-5).

No. 5 Wake Forest 98, North Carolina A&T; 76 -- Justin Gray scored 21 of his 23 points in the first half at Winston-Salem, N.C., as the Demon Deacons (11-1) overpowered the Aggies (1-11).

No. 7 Syracuse 80, Hofstra 75 -- Hakim Warrick scored 29 points at Syracuse, N.Y., as the Orange (13-1) handed the Pride (9-1) their first defeat.

No. 11 Connecticut 123, Quinnipiac 71 -- Josh Boone had a career-high 22 points and eight blocks to lead the Huskies (8-1) past the Bobcats (4-5) at Hartford, Conn.

No. 14 Arizona 84, Richmond 71 -- Chris Rodgers had 20 points at Tucson as the Wildcats (10-2) held off the Spiders (5-5).

St. John’s 63, No. 17 North Carolina State 45 -- The Red Storm (6-4) grabbed a 27-10 lead at halftime and went on to surprise the Wolfpack (10-2) at New York.

No. 19 Louisville 78, Eastern Kentucky 63 -- Francisco Garcia scored 23 points at Louisville, Ky., as the Cardinals (10-2) defeated the Colonels.

No. 21 Mississippi State 71, Virginia Tech 65 -- Lawrence Roberts scored 25 points as the Bulldogs (12-2) held off the Hokies (6-5) at New Orleans.

No. 22 Cincinnati 95, Longwood 69 -- Jason Maxiell had 30 points at Las Vegas as the Bearcats (11-0) brushed aside the Lancers (1-15).

*

OTHER GAMES

Mo Charlo had 19 points and 10 rebounds to help Nevada (8-3) win its Western Athletic Conference opener with a 70-55 victory over San Jose State (3-7) at Reno.... Tim Bush scored a career-high 23 points at West Lafayette, Ind., as Baylor (6-3) won its fourth in a row with a 73-72 victory over Purdue (3-6).... Jeremiah Massey scored 24 points at Manhattan, Kan., leading Kansas State (9-1) to an 81-63 victory over Eastern Illinois (5-5).

Marcus Neal made three free throws with 1.2 seconds left to lift Nebraska (5-4) to a 62-61 victory over Tennessee (6-5) at Knoxville, Tenn.... Robert Hite scored 18 points at Coral Gables, Fla., as Miami (8-2) won its seventh in a row with an 80-63 victory over Appalachian State (5-5).... Toney Douglas scored 22 points to lead Auburn (9-4) to a 73-69 victory over Belmont (2-7) at Auburn, Ala.

Andrew Bogut scored 25 points to lead Utah (10-3) to an 80-48 victory over Colorado (7-3) at Salt Lake City.... Tack Minor had 23 points as Louisiana State (6-3) rolled to a 67-50 victory over Florida State (7-6) at New Orleans.