Missouri reaches Sweet 16

The Tigers lost a big lead, but overtook Marquette in the final minute for an 83-79 victory Sunday in the West Regional.

By EDDIE PELLS

The Associated Press

BOISE, Idaho -- For four unbelievable minutes early, Kim English turned the basketball court in Boise into his own private Idaho.

During two excruciating free throws late, it was his personal little pressure cooker.

MATT CILLEY ~ Associated PressMissouri's DeMarre Carroll and J.T. Tiller block a shot by Marquette's Dwight Burke during the first half of their second-round NCAA tournament game Sunday in Boise, Idaho.

The Missouri freshman was brilliant through all of it -- and never more clutch than when he came off the bench to "pinch shoot" for the injured J.T. Tiller with 5.5 seconds left Sunday.

English made both free throws to give the Tigers the go-ahead points in an 83-79 victory over Marquette.

Yes, folks, this is how stars are born in the NCAA tournament.

"He was sitting there auditioning for it," Missouri coach Mike Anderson said. "Kim, he just gave me that look, and sometimes you just have that feeling and he went up and shot the ball well."

Did anyone expect different?

Missouri forward DeMarre Carroll (1) and J.T. Tiller (4) get up over the top of the shot of Marquette forward Dwight Burke (12) during the first half of a second-round men's NCAA college basketball tournament game in Boise, Idaho, Sunday, March 22, 2009. (AP Photo/Matt Cilley)

He had what can only be described as an out-of-body experience during a 4 1/2-minute shooting spree in the first half. He made three 3-pointers and scored 15 points during that stretch to help third-seeded Mizzou (30-6) turn a six-point deficit into a 16-point lead.

Still, English was on the bench for most of the second half, watching sixth-seeded Marquette chip away at the lead and eventually go ahead.

But when Tiller fell hard and hurt his right wrist after being fouled with the score tied at 79-79, Anderson took advantage of the college rule that allows teams to substitute for an injured free-throw shooter.

He chose English, who made both.

"He just said, 'Kimmie,' and I knew what that meant," English said. "I'm so happy that he had faith in me to get up there and knock them down. I think anybody on the bench would've knocked them down, actually."

PAUL SAKUMA ~ Associated PressMissouri guard Matt Lawrence hugs forward Leo Lyons after Missouri defeated Marquette 83-79 in the second round of the NCAA tournament Sunday in Boise, Idaho.

After the English free throws, Marquette's Lazar Hayward turned it over by stepping over the baseline on the ensuing inbounds pass, and the Golden Eagles (25-10) were forced to foul. Leo Lyons made two more free throws to ice the game and Missouri moved onto the West Regional semifinals to play Memphis on Thursday in Glendale, Ariz.

It ruined a wonderful effort from Marquette senior Jerel McNeal, who matched his career high with 30 points, and Wesley Matthews, who scored 24.

It also brought boos from the Marquette fans and others in the crowd, especially when they saw Tiller re-enter the game a second later to help the Tigers run out the clock. For the record, Tiller has been dealing with the wrist problem all season. And the rules say he can re-enter the game after the next whistle.

"It's one of the technicalities of the game," McNeal said. "If you're somewhat hurt, faking hurt or whatever it is, you can lay on the ground and the trainer can come out and basically, you get a sub for them. It's happened to me before and I've seen it done before, so it wasn't a big surprise to me."

On paper, though, it wasn't that great a move.

PAUL SAKUMA ~ Associated PressMissouri forward Leo Lyons dunks the ball in front of Marquette forward Dwight Burke during the first half of their second-round NCAA tournament game Sunday in Boise, Idaho. Missouri defeated Missouri 83-79.

Coming into the game, Tiller was a 76 percent free-throw shooter while English, icing on the bench for most of the second half, shot only 68 percent.

The game, of course, isn't decided on paper.

"I knew, right when I looked at him, if coach chose him he was going to knock 'em down," teammate Matt Lawrence said. "I've never seen a freshman with so much confidence."

English was even more impressive in the first half.

During a stretch of 4 1/2 well-spent minutes, he came one point short of his career high. He went 6 of 8 from the floor, including 3 of 4 from 3-point range, and added a rebound.

Missouri guard Kim English (24) scores a free throw in front of guard Marcus Denmon (12) in the final seconds to help defeat Marquette 83-79 in the second-round men's NCAA college basketball tournament game in Boise, Idaho, Sunday, March 22, 2009. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

Then he came back for 1 second -- literally -- and won the game. He finished with 17 points.

He rewrote the book on Boise for Missouri fans, who had nothing but bad memories up here. Remember UCLA guard Tyus Edney's famous full-court dash and buzzer-beating layup -- the one that sparked the Bruins to the 1995 championship? That came against Missouri -- in Idaho.

"I guess it's a new day," English said.

Missouri's usual stars weren't bad, either.

DeMarre Carroll finished with 15 points, Lawrence had 16 and Lyons led the Tigers with 18, including a nifty spin under the basket for a three-point play that gave Missouri a 79-78 lead with 48.7 seconds left after they'd trailed by four.

Missouri guard J.T. Tiller (4) celebrates with a teammate after defeating Marquette 83-79 in a second-round men's NCAA college basketball tournament game in Boise, Idaho, Sunday, March 22, 2009. (AP Photo/Matt Cilley)

McNeal came back to make one of two free throws to tie the game and set up the wacky finish.

Among the game's highlights was the return of Marquette's Dominic James, who made an unexpected comeback less than a month after a broken foot was supposed to have shut down his season. Largely considered Marquette's best player, he got plenty of playing time but didn't make a difference.

James played 17 minutes, but he didn't take a shot and wasn't on the floor at the end.

"Above all else, I wanted him to finish his career in a uniform," Marquette coach Buzz Williams said. "Regardless of the result, I wanted him to have closure in regards to his basketball career at Marquette."

Not a great way to end it, though, and the game must have brought flashbacks for Marquette, which trailed by 17 to Villanova in the second round of the Big East tournament, came all the way back but ended up losing by one.

PAUL SAKUMA ~ Associated PressLEFT: Missouri guard Kim English drives past Marquette forward Dwight Burke during their second-round NCAA tournament game in Boise. CENTER: English sinks a free throw in front of teammate Marcus Denmon in the final seconds. RIGHT: English celebrates in front of Marquette guard Jimmy Butler after making two free throws that broke a 79-79 tie and put Missouri ahead for good.

As for Missouri -- well, it must be good to know it has another reliable player to depend on now that it's one of the final 16.

"We knew that he was one of the best shooters on the floor," James said. "Obviously, we didn't want to give him any looks. But he got it going early. It gave him a little more confidence."