It seemed like Missouri’s night — and it could have been.
Whether it was the student who hit a half-court shot worth $5,000 at intermission or the scrappy way the Tigers played — no doubt buoyed by the best crowd of the season at Mizzou Arena — the unthinkable seemed possible.
Missouri, which has rented space in the SEC cellar for three straight seasons, went toe-to-toe with No. 11 Kentucky, the two-time reigning conference champs and winningest program in NCAA history.
With the student section at the south end of Mizzou Arena’s packed to the rafters for the first time this season, the Tigers rode a wave of enthusiasm to an early lead and held it for almost the entire first half.