Gilbert's bombs help MU stay in NCAA hunt

BOULDER, Colo. -- Nobody can get mad at Clarence Gilbert for putting up a lot of long-range shots this time.

All the senior guard did was set a Big 12 record with 12 3-pointers in Missouri's much-needed 96-83 victory at Colorado on Saturday. As a team, the Tigers set a school record with 20 3's, keeping them alive for an NCAA bid with a 19-9 overall record and a conference mark of 8-6.

Gilbert finished with 40 points. His 12 3-pointers erased the record of 10 by Al Coleman of Texas.

The Tigers needed someone to have a hot hand since Kareem Rush, their leading scorer, stepped on a ball during warmups and twisted his left ankle.

Rush wound up with 11 points.

"He was hurt, but he hit big shots," said Gilbert, who was 12-of-19 from behind the arc. "His shots were bigger than mine."

When Colorado sliced the lead to six points with a little more than 10 minutes left, Rush hit three consecutive shots.

Rush played just 20 minutes.

"Yeah, I hit some shots when it got close," Rush said. "But Clarence kept us in the game all day long. He was really hot. He does that stuff in practice all the time. That's Clarence. It's normal for him. But it was big to do it in a game."

With just one day to catch their breath, the Tigers are home tonight against Oklahoma State.

"Yeah, a lot of people around the country were saying, 'If they don't win this one, they're out of the (NCAA) tournament," Rush said. "We approached this like our backs were against the wall. But they still are."

D.J. Harrison, Colorado's acclaimed freshman center, did not play. He broke a bone in his hand against Kansas State on Wednesday and is out for at least the rest of the regular season. The Buffaloes said he would be re-evaluated for the Big 12 tournament.

Michel Morandais scored 33 points for Colorado (13-12, 4-10).

Also scoring in double figures for Missouri were Arthur Johnson with 12 points, Rickey Paulding with 11 and Travon Bryant with 10.