Tucker plays big role in Longhorns' victory

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- P.J. Tucker's big second half helped No. 7 Texas overcome off games from its other top scorers.

Tucker scored 18 of his 20 points after the break and added 11 rebounds in a 66-53 victory over Missouri on Wednesday night. Many of the points came after the 6-foot-5 Tucker moved from the perimeter to inside.

"In the second half, Tucker took over the game," Missouri coach Quin Snyder said. "They went small with him and he was awfully tough for us to handle on the block."

Kenton Paulino added 14 points for the Longhorns (18-3, 6-1 Big 12), who shrugged off a 10-point loss at Oklahoma on Saturday and have won 10 of 11. The Longhorns led by eight at halftime despite 33 percent shooting.

"We weren't playing like we usually play," Tucker said. "So we needed a spark. I tried to take it into my hands to try to get the guys going, try to make it happen."

Texas led by as many as 21 points in the second half, even though leading scorer LaMarcus Aldridge, Daniel Gibson and Brad Buckman never got rolling. Aldridge played 16 minutes due to foul problems and had five points and three rebounds, Gibson had eight points and Buckman four while missing all six shots.

Missouri made it respectable at the finish with 11 straight points. Texas scored only three points in the final 4:12.

Missouri (10-9, 3-5) has lost four in a row, all by double digits and two of them at home. Jimmy McKinney had 13 points and 10 rebounds.