Illinois Vs. Missouri Final Score: Illini Comeback Falls Short, Tigers Win 78-74

The No. 8 Missouri Tigers took a nice lead into halftime against the No. 24 Illinois Fighting Illini, but needed to withstand an impressive comeback to complete the 78-74 victory. Missouri got out to a 41-30 lead going into halftime and expanded that lead by a few in the second, but trailed going into the game's final two minutes and needed a big run at the end of the game to hold on.

After leading 59-45 with about 12:25 remaining in the game, the Tigers allowed the Fighting Illini to go on a 17-3 run over the next seven minutes that would tie things up at 62. After a couple of minutes, three free throws from D.J. Richardson put Illinois up 70-69 with just two minutes left in the game. Missouri would take things over from there, though, scoring 7 unanswered points on the way to victory.

Phil Pressey led the way for Missouri with 20 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds and 3 steals, and Michael Dixon scored 18 points and made the final free throws that effectively put the game away. Ricardo Ratliff added 14 points and 5 rebounds as the key player down-low.

Illinois got strong performances from guards Brandon Paul and Joseph Bertand, as well as center Meyers Leonard, but didn't have enough in the final couple minutes. Paul and Betrand shouldered the scoring burden with 19 points apiece, with Bertrand going a perfect 9-for-9 shooting from the field. Leonard added 14 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists.

For more, stay tuned to SB Nation St. Louis. To keep tabs on Missouri, check out Rock M Nation, SB Nation's Missouri Tigers blog.

Missouri Basketball Commercials Remind You: If You Want To Be Sheryl Crow, Come To Columbia

Missouri Vs. Illinois Update: Braggin' Rights Go To Mizzou By 41-30 Score At Halftime

Mike Dixon and the undefeated Missouri Tigers have a bead on their share of Braggin’ Rights Thursday night—they lead the Fighting Illini by a score of 41-30 at halftime of the annual Busch-sponsored rivalry game in St. Louis. Dixon has 11—including eight from the free-throw line—to lead Mizzou, who comes into the game ranked ninth to Illinois’s 25th.

The story is pretty easy to tell thus far—the Tigers have shot better—14-28, to the Illini’s 13-35—converted on more three-pointers, taken four more free throws and made all of them, and otherwise outplayed Illinois everywhere there’s basketball to be played. Despite early foul trouble for Marcus Denmon, Flip Pressey, and Ricardo Ratliffe, Missouri shows every indication of continuing their winning ways in St. Louis as the second half begins.

Of course, Missouri sports has a history of playing against expectations, as they’ll tell you at Rock M Nation. For more updates, follow along with fans there or at SB Nation’s Illinois blog, Hail to the Orange, where the eponymous braggin’ rights will come into full effect depending on who pulls this one out.

Previewing the 2011 Busch Braggin' Rights

Tonight, thousands of people will descend on downtown Saint Louis to watch the University of Illinois take on the Missouri University in the annual Braggin' Rights match up. Most of these people went to neither of those schools.