Longhorns deal Mizzou a blow

AUSTIN, Texas -- After a miserable shooting performance by Texas in the first half, Dion Dowell took the shortest route possible to the basket.

There was no missing when Dowell threw down a two-handed dunk to start the second half, a thunderous bucket that kick-started a 13-0 run that sent the Longhorns to a critical 63-51 win Saturday over Missouri.

"We were ahead, then we turned it over and they're dunking it," said Missouri coach Quin Snyder, whose team had held Texas to just 6-of-32 shooting in the first half and led 25-24 at the break.

Dowell's dunk gave Texas new life. Kenny Taylor hit a 3-pointer, Jason Klotz hit three straight baskets and Texas (19-8, 8-6) was off and running to a win that guaranteed at least a .500 regular-season finish in the Big 12.

While that mark won't ensure the Longhorns a seventh consecutive NCAA tournament bid, it was considered a necessary benchmark.

Klotz made a huge impact, particularly with forward Brad Buckman playing just 19 minutes because of foul trouble.

Klotz finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds.

Klotz's 3-point play with 9:51 left made it 47-33 before Missouri rallied behind three consecutive 3-pointers, two by Jason Conley, that cut it to 49-42.

Conley led the Tigers (14-14, 6-8)with 15 points.

Buckman had five double-doubles in the previous six games but finished with just four points and six boards, all in the first half.

"He was unbelievable in the second half," guard Daniel Gibson said of Klotz. "I told the guys 'Let's just get the ball to Jason and feed off him.'"

Klotz finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds.

Just shooting 2-of-8 in the first half, Klotz hit a layup and stepped away from the basket to swish two jumpers as the Longhorns opened a 37-25 lead. He hit all four of his shots in the second.

The Longhorns also got 20 points from Taylor, who hit three of his four 3-pointers in the second half.

Texas managed just two field goals over the final 13 minutes of the first half but stayed close by hitting 10 of 14 free throws.

"I told them I didn't think it was possible we could shoot the ball any worse," Barnes said. "You have to believe you're not going to shoot 18 percent again."

Far from it. Texas hit 12 of 17 shots in the second.

"That stretch when we went from up one to down 12 was basically our mistakes," said Snyder, whose team committed five of its 19 turnovers during the Texas run.

Klotz's 3-point play with 9:51 left made it 47-33 before Missouri rallied behind three consecutive 3-pointers, two by Jason Conley, that cut it to 49-42.

Conley led the Tigers (14-14, 6-8)with 15 points.

Taylor then hit two of his four 3-pointers, including one from deep on the left wing just before the shot block buzzer that snuffed the rally with just under two minutes to play.