|
|
|
Saturday, January 13, 2001
A game of milestones for Missouri, Gilbert
Associated Press
|
COLUMBIA, Mo. -- The first four-overtime game in 95 seasons
of Missouri basketball coincided with a pretty big day in the
Gilbert household.
Clarence Gilbert's career-best 43-point game in the Tigers'
112-109 victory over No. 18 Iowa State was a birthday present to
his father, Willie Westbrook.
"My uncle called me and said it's about time for a 40-point
game," said Gilbert, whose previous career high was 32 points last
month in a double-overtime loss at Iowa. "I said, 'I don't know, I
just want to beat these guys.' It happened and I guess it's for my
father's birthday."
Gilbert tied the Big 12 record set by Texas' Reggie Freeman vs.
Fresno State on Dec. 14, 1996, and registered only the fourth
40-point game in five years of the Big 12 Conference.
Gilbert's was three points shy of the school record by Joe Scott
in 1961. His total was the most by a Missouri player since Anthony
Peeler scored 43 at Kansas in 1992.
The previous longest game for Missouri was a three-OT thriller
against Illinois in 1993, a 108-107 victory. Iowa State had a
five-overtime game at Colorado in 1960, a game that was originally
a loss but changed to a forfeit due to an ineligible player.
"I lost track of how many overtimes, but it was a terrific
ballgame," coach Quin Snyder said.
Iowa State coach Larry Eustachy wasn't certain about the count,
either.
"Was it three overtimes?" Eustachy asked reporters. "Four,
OK. There's not a better game on today's slate, I promise you
that."
There were several other high-water marks:
- The combined 75 points by Gilbert and Kareem Rush, who had 32
points, is the highest ever by a Missouri duo. The former record
was 64 points by Gilbert and Rush in the double-overtime loss at
Iowa, and by Charles Henke and Bob Reiter in 1961 against Kansas
State.
- Gilbert's 36 attempts broke the record of 35 by Willie Smith
on March 20, 1976, against Michigan in the Elite Eight of the NCAA
tournament. His 18 3-point attempts broke the previous mark of 16
by Mark Atkins, twice in 1993.
- Gilbert's 56 minutes broke the school record of 54 by Lamont
Frazier in the 1993 triple-OT game against Illinois. Rush also
broke the record, playing 55 minutes, and Brian Grawer (47) played
more than a full game.
Freshman Travon Bryant, rounding into form after missing the
first semester, came off the bench to play 31 minutes. No one
appeared exhausted.
"We practice for 3 1/2 hours sometimes, so we're used to
staying out on the court," Bryant said. "You have to be in the
game, you have to keep standing up out there."
Two of Iowa State's three losses have been in overtime on the
road. Eustachy believes there's a huge advantage to teams being at
home in that situation, but said there are few similarities to the
Cyclones' OT loss at Oklahoma State.
"One was full of errors and one was executed very well, so
we're improving," Eustachy said. "That's what I'm concerned
about."
Four Iowa State players fouled out and Eustachy had to put in a
couple players cold in the fourth overtime. One of them, freshman
guard Zach Fortune, had two turnovers.
"That was unfortunate for Zach that he had to get out there and
play," Eustachy said. "He's upset with himself, but nobody can go
out there in those circumstances and perform. I think the freshmen
learned."
|
|
ALSO SEE
Gilbert's 43 get Missouri past No. 23 Iowa State in four OTs
|
|
