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ShareMissouri Earns Bragging Rights
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Even as ninth-ranked Mizzou clobbered each of its first 11 opponents by double digits, most of them by 25 or more, MU coach Frank Haith said last week he knew the true challenges were imminent.
Sure enough, the Tigers got about all they could handle on Thursday night at Scottrade Center before fending off Illinois' furious rally from 14 points down to take the lead late in the game. But the Tigers emerged with a 78-74 victory before a delirious crowd of 22,087.
With Phil Pressey and Michael Dixon sparking the victory with 18 points each, the Tigers improved to 12-0 for the first time in 30 years.
But more to the immediate point, they also won the "Braggin' Rights" game for the third straight year since losing nine in a row.
That 75-59 loss in 2008 suddenly seemed like a long time ago to senior Kim English, who was crying by the time he got in the locker...