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No. 5 Mizzou claws past No. 3 Baylor

Jan 22, 2012 - 7:09 AM Waco, TX (Sports Network) - Ricardo Ratliffe scored 27 points, Phil Pressey had 18 and No. 5 Missouri held on to hand No. 3 Baylor its second straight loss, 89-88, on Saturday.

Marcus Denmon added 15 points, including the free throw with 4.5 seconds left that counted as the difference as Missouri (18-1, 5-1 Big 12) won its fourth straight game since losing to Kansas State two weeks ago.

Quincy Miller poured in 29 points to lead Baylor (17-2, 4-2) and Pierre Jackson had 20.

Brady Heslip's three-pointer at the buzzer made it a one-point final score, but Denmon had all but sealed the win by going 1-for-2 from the line at the other end.

"Obviously, it was a great win for us. I thought our guys showed a lot of poise down the stretch," said Missouri head coach Frank Haith. "Throughout the game, we played with great toughness, which you have to have to win on the road."

The Bears, after beginning the week undefeated at 17-0 -- the best start in program history -- have now lost games to Kansas and Missouri in the span of six days.

Still, Saturday marked the best men's basketball game in the history of the Ferrell Center -- at least in terms of the rankings.

It was the first time a pair top-10 teams played in the building and the first time in Baylor history that two top-five teams met.

Missouri had a 39-35 lead at the break, but didn't begin to take control until the second half.

The Tigers scored eight straight points, capped by Ratliffe's layup, to take a 68-58 lead inside eight minutes to go. Later, their advantage climbed to 12 on Kim English's three-pointer to make it 76-64.

Baylor chipped away, cutting a seven-point deficit to four on Jackson's three from the left side with 51 seconds remaining. Jackson buried another three with five seconds left, floating over the line on a shot that was originally ruled a two-pointer but changed upon review.

"The crowd really helped us get back in it," said Baylor head coach Scott Drew. "The guys, all year long, have fought until the end and won a lot of close games, and they give you a sense of our leadership we can come back."

But Denmon knocked down the second of two free throws at the other end after clanking the first off the front of the rim and Missouri held on.

Game Notes

Baylor will try to get back on track at Oklahoma on Tuesday. Missouri plays at Oklahoma State on Wednesday...The Tigers shot 54.5 percent from the field, while the Bears lost despite shooting 57.1.