Missouri edges past SIU

The Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS -- Missouri's Rickey Paulding drove the lane for a chance to hit a game-winning shot. He did, but not the way he planned.

Paulding was fouled on the drive and hit one of two free throws with 4.1 seconds left and as the sixth-seeded Tigers survived an upset scare Thursday with a 72-71 victory over Southern Illinois in the Midwest Regional.

Kent Williams' potential game-winner from the left wing glanced off the side of the rim at the buzzer.

The 11th-seeded Salukis (24-7) used almost the same script they did a year ago when they reached the round of 16. They stayed close throughout and waited for a chance to win it at the end. This time, there was no magic.

The Salukis tied it at 71 on Jermaine Dearman's layup with 25.2 seconds left. But Dearman was called for a blocking foul on Paulding, a call the Salukis believed was questionable.

Williams, the school's No. 2 all-time scorer, finished with 16 points -- 12 in the second half -- but missed the last shot of the game. Coach Bruce Weber patted Williams on the back of the head as he walked off the court.

The Salukis had two other problems -- free-throw shooting and matching up with Missouri's big bodies.

While the Salukis went just 11-of-21 from the free-throw line, Arthur Johnson and his teammates made sure it was no contest on the inside. Johnson finished with 24 points and 11 rebounds as the Tigers (22-10) advanced to the second round for the second straight season. They will meet Marquette on Saturday in Indianapolis.

Paulding also had a big game after a sluggish start. He missed his first five shots but had 19 points and nine rebounds as he helped Missouri finish with a flourish.

Southern Illinois went on an 11-2 run to take a 64-58 lead with 5:06 remaining.

But Missouri got a 3-pointer from Darren Brooks, a runner from Paulding, four free throws from Johnson and mid-range jumpers from Paulding and Johnson to retake the lead, 71-67, with 1:50 to go.

Dearman finished with 17 points for the Salukis.