Baylor spoils Kansas-Mizzou Big 12 title tilt

Texas never managed to put together a second-half rally against Missouri.

The Tigers stormed to a big early lead and poured on the steam when Texas star J’Covan Brown left the game briefly after getting banged up. The outcome was never in doubt most of the second half as a partisan crowd roared its approval.

Senior guard Kim English, who was hobbled against the Longhorns but still managed 23 points, said he’s not concerned about what people think about the Tigers.

He certainly doesn’t care that a lot of Big 12 fans will be rooting against them.

“We’re focused on people in our locker room, the people that support our program, the fans in the state of Missouri,” English said. “That’s who we want to win the championship for.”

English has been sublime at the Sprint Center, going 20 of 23 from the floor over his first two games of the league tournament, and 31 of 40 counting a pair of games earlier in the season.

Phil Pressey, whose previous career high was 22 points, also had 23 points against Texas.

“I usually try to get a feel for the game and see how teams are going to play me, because some teams kind of play me for the pass,” he said. “My teammates were confidence in me.”

Missouri coach Frank Haith dismissed any notion that he would rather have faced Kansas for the Big 12 title. He played the perfect diplomat in the postgame news conference, deflecting most of such questions and saying all the right things when he addressed some head on.

“We have an opportunity to win the Big 12 championship,” Haith said with a straight face, “regardless of who we’re playing against.”

It just so happens to be Baylor.

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