Unheralded moments that changed Missouri's Big 12 season: Goose Delivers

In this four-part series leading up to Missouri's debut at the Big 12 Championship on Thursday, rptgwb will take a look at some of the smaller moments that played a huge role in shaping Missouri's run through the Big 12. Today, this installment takes a look at an unheralded play that helped pave the way for the season's most enduring moment.

The Grey Goose Delivers

The Date: Feb. 9, 2009
The Game: Mizzou vs. Kansas
The Place: Mizzou Arena
The Result: 62-60 W
The Moment: "DeMarre Carroll missed Two Point Jumper (3:41), Matt Lawrence offensive rebound (3:41), Matt Lawrence made Two Point Layup."

Why it mattered: We all saw what happened in the first half of the Kansas game at Mizzou Arena. Coaches and players alike said the team was "intimidated by its own atmosphere," and it showed to the tune of managing on 16 points in the first half and facing a 14-point deficit at halftime.

Then, little by little, Missouri started to claw its way back, only to have Kansas keep the Tigers at arm's length. Kansas led Missouri by nine with eight minutes to play, then the run began. DeMarre hits the second of two from the line. Kimmie lays one up. Sherron Collins misses a layup. Little hacks DeMarre, who goes 2/2 at the line. Tyrel Reed misses two threes. Ramsey rebounds and ten seconds later, Carroll bounces home a three, making it 54-51, Kansas.

But, after a KU timeout, the Jayhawks came out and attacked, scoring on four consecutive made free throws to push the lead to 58-51. But on Missouri's next possession, a missed jumper by DeMarre find its way into the hands of a suddenly board-crashing Matt Lawrence, who puts the ball back up and in off the glass to once again shift the momentum.

We know the Grey Goose for what he is: the sixth man whose best asset is spot up shooting from the perimeter. But this play was the first step in the development of Matt Lawrence's complete game. Including Goose's putback, Missouri went on an 11-2 run in the last 3:41 to give Mike Anderson his signature win and Missouri fandom another piece of lore in Border War history.