No. 1 Kansas Has a Tiger by the Tail in Big 12 Final

It was a day for the bizarre in the Big 12 Conference tournament at Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Mo., the strangest thing being Missouri’s maddening march into today’s final against No. 1 Kansas.

Missouri, which entered the tournament with a 14-16 record, made 40 of 47 free throws to defeat Oklahoma, 89-80, in a rough-and-tumble semifinal Saturday. Kansas held No. 16 Iowa State to 30% shooting and went on a 23-3 run to start the second half in a 72-48 victory.

There were 60 fouls called in the Missouri-Oklahoma game, but that was only one example of the rough play.

Nate Erdmann, Oklahoma’s leading scorer, crashed into the press table at courtside in the first half and play was halted 10 minutes while he was treated. He reentered the game with a bandage on his forehead and finished with 14 points on four-of-14 shooting.

Missouri’s Tyronn Lee later grabbed Oklahoma’s Corey Brewer by the head after the two went to floor for a loose ball.

The teams also did not go to their assigned locker rooms at halftime because bomb-sniffing dogs were checking the dressing quarters after a bomb threat was phoned in.

After the game, Oklahoma’s Tim Heskett was injured when he was hit by a railing that became detached from the stands while some kids leaned over it trying to get autographs. Heskett was taken to a hospital for precautionary X-rays.

Missouri (16-16) is the only team to defeat Kansas (31-1) this season. The 10th-seeded Tigers’ run, which includes victories over Nebraska and Texas, is reminiscent of 1978, when they won the Big Eight tournament with a 14-15 record.

Oklahoma (19-10) still has NCAA tournament aspirations.