Missouri Upsets Gonzaga, 63-61

Missouri missed its last 10 shots from the field and six of its last eight free throws -- and still managed to hang on against its toughest opponent so far.

Jason Conley had 16 points and 13 rebounds and Missouri’s defense limited No. 12 Gonzaga to a season-worst 38% shooting in a 63-61 victory Thursday night at Columbia, Mo.

“Our defense is getting better, that’s all I can say,” Conley said. “It doesn’t matter how long you didn’t score or how long you didn’t get a field goal.

“If you have more points than them, that’s all you need.”

Linas Kleiza added 11 points despite foul trouble for Missouri (7-5), which lost in overtime to Gonzaga last season. Kleiza, Missouri’s leading scorer with a 17-point average, fouled out with 3:29 left.

Missouri, in its first game since losing by six to top-ranked Illinois on Dec. 22, improved to 16-38 against top-25 teams in six seasons under Quin Snyder. This was the Tigers’ first victory over a ranked opponent since they beat Oklahoma State in double-overtime last Feb. 24 at home.

Players felt rallying from a 15-point halftime deficit against Illinois, even in a loss, could be a turning point to a season that had a rocky start.

“I think we learned that if we can play with them, we can play with just about anybody in the country,” Conley said. “Although we did lose that game, it was a big confidence booster for us.”

Ronny Turiaf, who averages a team-leading 19 points for Gonzaga, missed two free throws with a chance to tie it with 8.4 seconds left. Turiaf, battling two ankle injuries, had six points on two of 15 shooting along with nine rebounds.

“I’m supposed to be a leader and I’m supposed to step up and knock down those two free throws,” Turiaf said. “I didn’t. That’s it.”

Turiaf also missed badly on another chance to tie, a driving layup with about three seconds left that banged high off the side of the backboard, and Adam Morrison was short on a three-point attempt at the buzzer. Gonzaga (10-2) had been given another opportunity when Missouri’s Kalen Grimes missed two free throws with 7.6 seconds left.

Coach Mark Few said Turiaf made an “awful” shot.

“We just didn’t realize how much time we had,” Few said. “We could have gotten all the way to the rim. Even Adam had time to set up and shoot.”

Morrison and Missouri guard Jimmy McKinney clashed briefly after the game as fans stormed the court.

“One of their players put his fingers in my face and said a few choice words that I can’t say in the papers,” Morrison said. “I just told him to get his hand out of my face.”

McKinney shrugged off the confrontation. “Just players just talking a little trash,” McKinney said. “That’s all.”

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No. 1 Illinois 69, Northwestern State 51 -- Luther Head scored 18 points at Las Vegas as the Fighting Illini (13-0) brushed aside the Demons (5-7).

No. 4 North Carolina 107, Cleveland State 64 -- Raymond Felton ran his streak of consecutive three-point baskets to 12 and finished with 13 points and eight assists at Chapel Hill, N.C., as the Tar Heels (11-1) routed the Vikings (3-5).

No. 5 Wake Forest 98, North Carolina A&T; 76 -- Justin Gray scored 21 of his 23 points in the first half at Winston-Salem, N.C., as the Demon Deacons (11-1) overpowered the Aggies (1-11).

No. 7 Syracuse 80, Hofstra 75 -- Hakim Warrick scored 29 points at Syracuse, N.Y., as the Orange (13-1) handed the Pride (9-1) their first defeat.

No. 11 Connecticut 123, Quinnipiac 71 -- Josh Boone had a career-high 22 points and eight blocks to lead the Huskies (8-1) past the Bobcats (4-5) at Hartford, Conn.

No. 14 Arizona 84, Richmond 71 -- Chris Rodgers had 20 points at Tucson as the Wildcats (10-2) held off the Spiders (5-5).

St. John’s 63, No. 17 North Carolina State 45 -- The Red Storm (6-4) grabbed a 27-10 lead at halftime and went on to surprise the Wolfpack (10-2) at New York.

No. 19 Louisville 78, Eastern Kentucky 63 -- Francisco Garcia scored 23 points at Louisville, Ky., as the Cardinals (10-2) defeated the Colonels.

No. 21 Mississippi State 71, Virginia Tech 65 -- Lawrence Roberts scored 25 points as the Bulldogs (12-2) held off the Hokies (6-5) at New Orleans.

No. 22 Cincinnati 95, Longwood 69 -- Jason Maxiell had 30 points at Las Vegas as the Bearcats (11-0) brushed aside the Lancers (1-15).

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OTHER GAMES

Mo Charlo had 19 points and 10 rebounds to help Nevada (8-3) win its Western Athletic Conference opener with a 70-55 victory over San Jose State (3-7) at Reno.... Tim Bush scored a career-high 23 points at West Lafayette, Ind., as Baylor (6-3) won its fourth in a row with a 73-72 victory over Purdue (3-6).... Jeremiah Massey scored 24 points at Manhattan, Kan., leading Kansas State (9-1) to an 81-63 victory over Eastern Illinois (5-5).

Marcus Neal made three free throws with 1.2 seconds left to lift Nebraska (5-4) to a 62-61 victory over Tennessee (6-5) at Knoxville, Tenn.... Robert Hite scored 18 points at Coral Gables, Fla., as Miami (8-2) won its seventh in a row with an 80-63 victory over Appalachian State (5-5).... Toney Douglas scored 22 points to lead Auburn (9-4) to a 73-69 victory over Belmont (2-7) at Auburn, Ala.

Andrew Bogut scored 25 points to lead Utah (10-3) to an 80-48 victory over Colorado (7-3) at Salt Lake City.... Tack Minor had 23 points as Louisiana State (6-3) rolled to a 67-50 victory over Florida State (7-6) at New Orleans.