Memphis Hands Missouri Third Loss in Four Games

Memphis senior point guard Antonio Burks is starting to adapt to his role as team leader.

Burks contributed leadership, spirit and 17 points Saturday as Memphis defeated No. 11 Missouri, 61-59, the Tigers’ third loss in four games.

“I think that’s what I need to do,” Burks said when asked about running the offense and motivating teammates. “I need to step up when players on the floor are not playing hard. I’m learning the role.”

Burks was seven of 15 from the field, including three of seven from three-point range. Memphis Coach John Calipari said the senior is starting to take more control of the game by running the team.

“This team is young, but the catalyst has become Antonio Burks,” Calipari said. “I do not want him to be our leading scorer, but the way he ran the club, he tried to get everybody involved.”

Missouri (4-3), which also lost to No. 21 Illinois this week, got within 60-59 on Rickey Paulding’s three-point basket with 4.5 seconds remaining. Jimmy McKinney’s running shot from beyond the three-point line as time ran out bounced off the rim, giving Memphis (7-2) its third consecutive victory.

Arthur Johnson led Missouri with 14 points and 12 rebounds.

Paulding and Travon Bryant each scored 13 points. Bryant grabbed 10 rebounds as Missouri controlled the boards, 49-35.

At times, the physical play had coaches screaming about no-calls and bodies flying under the basket on rebounds.

“It came across [on TV], I imagine, as an absolute war,” Calipari said. “It was a good victory.”

Missouri shot only 24% in the first half and trailed at halftime, 35-26.

“In the first half, we had a ton of opportunities in the paint and could not convert,” Missouri Coach Quin Snyder said.