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Missouri Basketball

Posted by Official Sports Report in Tulsa, OK on Jan 31, 2008

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Mike Anderson has been coaching basketball for more than two decades. He has been on the bench for a national championship and won a lot of games. And, yet, he told his team on Wednesday night--after a 66-62 loss to Nebraska--that he had never been more proud.


Dan Turner

Carroll's double-double was not quite enough to propel Missouri to a win.

"He just told us that he's been coaching a long time in basketball and that he's never been more proud of a group of players," Matt Lawrence said. "Even though we lost the basketball game and winning's our main priority, it's good to know that the coaching staff is still behind us."

"It brings joy to my heart," Anderson said. "None of you guys even thought these guys would be in that position. I'm going to tell you that, no doubt. But you know what? I had a suspicion, I had a feeling that we were gonna win the game. But I always think that. I always think that. But I really did. I really, really did. And the reason why is nobody expected it. But you know what? Those eight guys did. Those eight guys did and that coaching staff did."

The Tigers suited up just six scholarship players. Midway through the second half, Justin Safford went down with a leg injury. The remaining five players and Michael Anderson, Jr., went the rest of the way and nearly pulled out a win over the Huskers.

"Those were guys that wanted to represent Mizzou," Anderson said. "Even shorthanded. They never complained for a minute. They gave it all they got tonight."

With four of their five starters from the Colorado game, the Tigers fought and clawed their way to a 60-60 tie in the waning minutes. Ultimately, an errant pass from J.T. Tiller led to a breakaway layup for Nebraska, ending the Tiger hopes of a win in the final 20 seconds.

"We had the game right there, we had them where we wanted to be and we just couldn't finish them out," said DeMarre Carroll, who led the Tiger charge with 15 points and 12 rebounds in 38 minutes. "You can't ask for a better effort."

"The guys that were out there showed a new level of heart that I haven't seen in a long time," Lawrence said.

Stefhon Hannah is most definitely out for at least four weeks. As for the other suspended players, Anderson said he has made no decision.

"Right now, we've got some things they've got to do," he said. "Those guys will serve a suspension and it will be evaluated and possibly they will be back for the Kansas State game."

The Tigers and Wildcats tip off at 12:30 on Saturday afternoon at Mizzou Arena.