February 4, 2012; Columbia, MO, USA; Fans celebrate after the Missouri Tigers defeated the Kansas Jayhawks at Mizzou Arena. The Missouri Tigers beat the Kansas Jayhawks 74-71. Mandatory Credit: Dak Dillon-US PRESSWIRE
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The Sports Network
Columbia, MO (Sports Network) - Marcus Denmon's personal surge late in regulation boosted No. 4 Missouri to a 74-71 win over eighth-ranked Kansas in the Border Showdown.
Denmon, who scored nine straight points during Missouri's game-ending 13-0 spurt, canned a pair of three-pointers, including the one that gave the Tigers a 72-71 edge in the final minute.
Denmon, who ended with 29 points, went 6-of-9 from three-point range, as Missouri (21-2, 8-2 Big 12) won its third in a row to tie the Jayhawks and Baylor atop the conference standings. Kim English added 18 points.
Michael Dixon scored 15 and stood his ground by taking a charge from Tyshawn Taylor with 9.8 seconds remaining.
Thomas Robinson had 25 points and 13 rebounds for the Jayhawks (18-5, 8-2), who also received 21 points from Taylor.
After Denmon's three gave the Tigers the lead, Taylor missed a pair of free throws off the back of the rim with 41.3 seconds left. But Phil Pressey couldn't connect on the front end of a 1-and-1 and Kansas called timeout with 17.4 on the clock.
Dixon stood his ground to take the charge and made two free throws. Elijah Johnson's wild three-point try from the top of the arc hit off the backboard as time expired.
The Sports Network