Recap I previously wrote:

Posted on: May 14, 2021 at 09:11:57 CT

What is often forgotten is the context for Missouri coming into the game. Namely, they were largely unimpressive. Coming off a 7th out of 8 team finish the year before and being picked to finish 3rd in the preseason, MU opened the season against DII instate CMSU at home and BARELY pulled out a 69-66 win after being down as many as 14 points. They next went to Arkansas where they had won the last five matchups and proceeded to suffer the worst loss in program history, getting absolutely destroyed 120-68. Wins followed but they were unimpressive wins over Jackson State, Arkansas State, SMU, and Coppin State…the last of which was a 1 point win on a buzzer beater by Lamont Frazier. Needless to say leading up to the Braggin Rights game MU had shown no indication of optimism or a promising season. For their part Illinois was coming off a 69 point margin of victory over Chicago State. They featured their all-time leading scorer Deon Thomas and a superb freshman Kiwane Garris.

In the press conference beforehand the always quotable Norm Stewart proclaimed “They're a 278-point favorite going into the game.” MU had Reggie Smith listed as out due to injury, Winfield as questionable, and Heller as doubtful. Illinois came into the game ranked #19, MU was unranked. It would be the last matchup between the two teams in the old arena and all 18,000 seats were sold.

Crudup was a monster in the first half, almost single handedly carrying MU. He was 8 for 11 from the field for 18 first half points, and after Marlo Finner hit an unexpected three to close it out MU led 42-38 going into the break.

MU would rush out to a 61-48 lead with 12 minutes to play and it appeared that the Tigers might take their third straight in the series. But Illinois would storm back and take the lead with just under 5 to play and turn their deficit into a 9 point lead. Frazier and Atkins each made two three pointers and 15-footer by Booker in the last 73 seconds of regulation to tie it up and send the game into overtime in thrilling fashion. With 30 seconds remaining and the Illini up by 5 the scoreboard had flashed “Illinois Wins” only to be proven wrong.

However, Crudup had fouled out with just over a minute to play in the comeback and Atkins (whose 3 pointer with 4 seconds remaining had tied the score) said he told Booker, “Now it's up to us, the perimeter guys, to step up even more.”

The first overtime would see both Atkins and Finner lost to fouls, and freshman Kelly Thames carry the bulk of the scoring load and tie the game at 88 with a dunk at the end of overtime number 1.

Julian Winfield would be the next casualty to fouls, unfortunately being whistled as Garris drove the lane with the game tied and no time remaining in the second overtime. That sent the freshman Garris to the line all alone and everyone else to their respective benches to watch, needing only to make one to give the Illini the victory.

Garris led all scorers in the game with 31 points. He was shooting 94% from the line thus far in the season. The free throw lane was empty as all eyes were focused squarely on him. He missed the first attempt. Now, there are a lot of parallels between this situation and what would happen 12 years later to Christian Moody. But Moody was a walkon and not a good free throw shooter regardless. Garris for all intents and purposes had been the best offensive player on the court and was virtually automatic from the line at this early juncture of his career. But he was unable to seize the moment and his second attempt missed as well, sending the game into a third overtime.

At that point 4 Tigers had already fouled out. Little used freshman to that point Jason Sutherland and Derek Grimm stepped to the forefront. Sutherland knocked down a 3 to open the third overtime and he and Grimm both contributed hustle plays and key moments as the game played to its close. Melvin Booker would become the 5th Tiger to foul out after recording a then program record 13th assist, and fellow senior Lamont Frazier (who played 54 of the total 55 minutes) iced the game at the free throw line for a final score of 108-107.

And like that a season changed. The Tigers started blowing out opponents. MU would lose only one more regular season game all year. They would become 1 of only 3 teams ever to go undefeated in Big 8 play. Booker would be Conference Player of the Year and an All American. MU would earn the only #1 seed in program history, and reach the Elite Eight. After not climbing inside the top 20 in the AP polls until Feb 7th, MU would finish the year at #5 in the polls tied for their highest end of season ranking ever.

“It was just destined for us to win,” Booker said. “That game turned our season around.”