Dec. 18, 2005

Box Score

Columbia, Mo. - Missouri's Thomas Gardner scored 20 points, including 12 in the second half, to help the Tigers overcome a one point halftime deficit and upend the Furman Paladins 72-63 Sunday afternoon in front of 5,801 at the Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo.

In a back-and-forth game, Missouri (4-3) took the lead for good on a Jimmy McKinney jumper with 3:21 left to break a 58-58 tie. After Furman and Missouri traded baskets, a three-pointer by Jason Horton with 1:53 left put Missouri ahead 65-60.

Furman had a pair of chances with less than a minute left. After Horton turned the ball over on a five-second call forced by Jadee Jones, Eric Webb's 3-point attempt fell short. Kevin Young secured the rebound and was fouled, but he airballed the front end of a 1-and-1.

Robby Bostain went the length of the court but his layup rolled off the rim and Missouri secured the win from the free-throw line.

Gardner started the game 3-for-3 from the field, but he missed his next five shots and finished with eight points in the half. Furman used runs of 8-0 and 7-0 to build a 34-33 halftime lead. Bostain paced the Paladins with nine points, six rebounds and four assists in the half.

Jason Horton added 13 points for Mizzou and McKinney had seven points on 2-for-12 shooting from the floor. McKinney and Marshall Brown each finished with 11 points.

Bostain led Furman (4-4) with 18 points, eight rebounds. and five assists. Webb, who entered the game as the Paladins' leading scorer, finished with eight points. Moussa Diagne added eight points and six rebounds, while George Brozos sparked the Paladins with eight points off the bench.

It was Furman's second loss this season against a Big 12 opponent after falling 83-74 to Texas Tech on Nov. 23.

The Paladins connected on 7-of-18 three-point attempts but shot just 40.7% from the floor. The Paladins made 12-of-16 free throw attempts. Mizzou finished 28-of-59 (47.5%) from the field and 6-of-14 (42.9%) from beyond the arc.

Furman (4-5) will break for Christmas before returning to Timmons Arena to host the Jack-in-the-Box Holiday Classic December 29-30. The Paladins open play on December 29, versus Kennesaw State at 8:00 p.m. while Marshall battles South Carolina State at 6:00. The tournament champion and consolation games are set for 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Friday evening.