Tigers drop Cowboys in a wild 2OT shootout

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Missouri surrendered a nine-point lead in the final 3:08 of regulation, but Arthur Johnson's free throws with 30.3 seconds left in the second overtime gave the Tigers a 93-92 victory Tuesday night over sixth-ranked Oklahoma State.

Hundreds of fans stormed the court to celebrate when a last-second jumper by Oklahoma State's John Lucas bounced off the rim, giving the Tigers (14-10, 8-5 Big 12) their fifth straight win and putting them back in contention for an NCAA tournament berth.

The loss ended an 11-game winning streak for Oklahoma State (21-3, 11-2) and dropped the Cowboys into a first-place Big 12 tie with Texas.

Missouri led for most of the game and seemed headed for a relatively easy win after consecutive 3-pointers by Rickey Paulding put the Tigers up 71-62 with 4:52 to play.

But Oklahoma State went to a full-court press for the rest of regulation that baffled the Tigers, forcing five straight missed shots. The Cowboys went on an 11-2 run that sent the game into overtime.

Missouri's Thomas Gardner made an off-balance 3-pointer with 24 seconds left in the first overtime to tie the game and force the second overtime.

In the second overtime, the lead changed hands six times, the last when Johnson hit both free throws after he was fouled by Tony Allen. After an Oklahoma State timeout with 25 seconds left, Lucas dribbled away the clock before attempting a last-second 3-pointer that bounced high off the back of the rim.

Paulding had 30 points and Johnson 29 for Missouri. Lucas had 30 for the Cowboys, Allen 24.

The climb to respectability

After dropping to 9-10 following a loss at Nebraska on Feb. 7, the Tigers have begun to play like they were expected to when picked as the nation's No. 4 team in the preseason.

Missouri seemed a longshot for even an NIT bid before its recent surge. The Tigers have three regular-season games remaining, including two against ranked teams -- at No. 25 Texas Tech on March 3 and at home against No. 20 Kansas on March 7.

Missouri led by as many as 13 points in the first half and was up 50-39 at the break.

Both teams came out running, but the Tigers were hot, hitting 18 of 32 first-half shots (56 percent). Missouri began the game with a 9-3 run, but Oklahoma State went ahead 21-20 with 12:35 to go in the first half when Jason Miller tipped in a missed shot. The Cowboys wouldn't lead again until overtime.