ST. LOUIS — Braggin’ Rights brought a taste of spring to this year’s holiday dinner.
After two years of blowouts between Missouri and Illinois, Sunday’s nonconference rivalry game saw the Tigers and Illini trade blows until Mizzou’s last punches clanked off the Enterprise Center rim.
Neither team led by more than 10, and MU responded to that deficit with an 11-0 run to keep a tight game intact down the stretch.
There were hairs to split around free throw shooting and the calls that led to them. But after Missouri (10-2) missed two 3-pointers in the final nine seconds of the game, Illinois (8-3) prevailed, holding on 80-77 for its second consecutive Braggin’ Rights victory.