6B
the university daily kansan
sports
monday, march 8, 2004
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END: Padgett shines with basket in closing seconds
CONTINUED FROM 1B
Conference) gave No. 21 Kansas (20-7, 12-4) all it could handle in the final regular-season game played at the Hearnes Center.
Offensively, both teams started the game with hot hands, scoring a combined 37 points in the first seven minutes of play. With junior forward Wayne Simien struggling early to score, Langford picked up his play, scoring 11 of Kansas' first 15 points. Missouri's senior tandem of forwards, Arthur Johnson and Rickey Paulding, matched Kansas in the final home game of their collegiate careers.
Johnson scored 15 of his career-high 37 points in the first half.
The two teams were gridlocked at halftime, 40-40, with neither squad having enjoyed a lead of more than six points.
Early in the second half, with Kansas leading 43-40 off of a three-pointer by junior guard Aaron Miles, Simien and Johnson locked horns in a battle during the next four minutes.
But instead of capitalizing, the Jayhawks allowed the Tigers to crawl right back. "We didn't have
The two combined to score the game's next 16 points. One side finally gave way, as Kansas reeled off a 9-0 run with just less than seven minutes left in the game, and led 77-67 with 4:53 remaining.
Those great plays for Missouri came on the defensive end, and after missing six straight free throws, the Tigers made seven straight as part of their own 9-0 run.
any offense the last four minutes at all," coach Bill Self said. "We played not to lose, and they made some great plays.
Then, with the score 79-78 in favor of Kansas and 30 seconds left to play, junior guard Jason Conley deflected an inbound pass by Kansas freshman guard J.R. Giddens. Conley took the ball on a fast break, and put the Tigers up 80-79 with an emphatic dunk.
With Kansas trailing, Miles,
just as he did last season to tie the
game, hit a clutch three with 20
seconds left. Conley evened the
score at 82-82 with two free
throws, but Kansas had one final
possession and 15 seconds left on
the clock.
Courtney Kuhlen/Kansas
It was just enough time for Padgett to find the ball in his hands, with the game in the balance.
The freshman delivered the two points along with the Jayhawks 20th victory of the season.
"It was an unbelievable shot," Self said. "It was probably as big of a shot I've ever had a freshman make. He struggled a little bit here lately, and for him to make that shot gives him a little bit of confidence."
The confidence boost could
not come at a better time for Padgett, who has had a rough patch as of late. During the five games before Missouri, Padgett had averaged just 4.4 points and 3.2 rebounds per game — both well below his season averages. Even though his numbers were still down a bit, Padgett proved to his teammates he's ready for the big-time games to be played in the coming weeks.
"That was a freshman stepping up and doing big things," Miles said. "He gets a lot of criticism from fans. I don't even call them people fans, those who criticize him. But for him to step up there and make that shot and just believe in himself, shows a lot of character and toughness."
Simien led the Jayhawks, scoring 16 of his team-high 22 points in the second half. Langford scored 19, and pulled down seven rebounds. Aaron Miles' 15 points gave him his highest scoring output since recording 16 points on Dec. 13 against Oregon.
Keith Langford, junior guard, scrambled for a loose ball against Travon Bryant, senior forward, during the first half of yesterday's game in Columbia, Mo. The Javhawk beats the Tigers 84-82.
Along with Padgett, Giddens was able to stop Missouri's momentum on several occasions with his sharp shooting. Giddens' 14 points were highlighted by four huge three-point field goals.
"I think it gives us a bit more of an edge," Giddens said. "We had a lot of pressure on us today. David stepped up. I think I stepped up. We took care of business, and I guess we can't be freshmen anymore."
The jayhawks, which entered yesterday's game as three-point underdogs, could now set up a rematch with the Tigers in their Big 12 Tournament opener on Friday. Missouri finishes the season in sixth place in the conference, and will have to defeat 11th-seeded Texas A&M Thursday to have its third shot at Kansas.
Most importantly for Kansas, the triumph snapped the Jayhawks' recent four-game road
losing streak. Even though Kansas will not have the comforts of a home crowd until next fall, the players figure if they can win in the environment they faced yesterday, it doesn't get much tougher.
"A lot of times at home we have the crowd behind us, providing a lot of energy for us," Miles said. "On the road, we're kind of by ourselves and have to provide our own energy. To be able to do that was important."
— Edited by Nikki Nugent
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