Snyder's practice provides a boost

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Quin Snyder's hands-on approach helped Missouri make it back to .500.

The former Duke point guard held an impromptu pregame practice about 90 minutes before game time, doing his best to prepare his reshuffled roster to play Colorado on Tuesday night.

The session began with just Snyder and Travon Bryant working on his shot, but soon blossomed with Snyder tossing passes from beyond the 3-point line to the entire roster.

It paid off in a 77-65 win over the Buffaloes.

"I just feel like, as much as our guys have been through, I want them to know I'm with them every step of the way," Snyder said.

Bryant had 17 points, nine rebounds and six assists -- perhaps his best overall game of the season. He said he felt energized by the pre-game session.

"That's what we needed," Bryant said. "If this is going to be the result every time, he needs to do it every game."

A late 18-2 run proved decisive for Missouri (10-10, 5-5 Big 12), which had lost two straight road games and fallen below the break-even mark for the first time in five seasons under Snyder.

Arthur Johnson added 16 points for Missouri and Rickey Paulding had 10 points and seven steals, one shy of the school record.

Jason Conley led the final charge, scoring seven of his 12 points, after Colorado had taken a 59-57 lead.

Arthur Johnson added 16 points and Rickey Paulding had 10 points and seven steals -- one shy of the school record -- as Missouri avenged its 83-70 loss at Colorado on Jan. 28.

Michel Morandais had 18 points for Colorado (13-8, 5-5) and David Harrison had eight points and 10 rebounds. Colorado made eight 3-pointers and got 12 points from reserve Marcus Hall.

Missouri has won seven in a row at home over Colorado, which fell to 1-4 on the road in conference play.

Bryant had 11 points and Johnson had 10 in the first half as Missouri emphasized its inside game for a 37-32 lead.

Missouri was short-handed with guard Josh Kroenke and forward Linas Kleiza out with injuries, on top of the recent dismissal of point guard Randy Pulley, and Snyder used only seven players. Kroenke's leg was gashed on Monday when Thomas Gardner dunked and brought the backboard down on a practice court, and Kleiza missed his fourth game with a separated shoulder.

"It's hard to gauge when exactly he'll be back," Snyder said of Kroenke. "It was a scary injury, seeing a big hole in his leg and not really knowing what happened."