Jan. 15, 2000

Box Score

By R.B. FALLSTROM
AP Sports Writer

COLUMBIA, Mo. - Clarence Gilbert continued a stretch of hot shooting with 25 points, going 5-for-9 from 3-point range, as Missouri beat Kansas State 73-56 Saturday.

Gilbert's third straight big day came on his 20th birthday. He leads the Big 12 with a 23-point average and has made 16-of-28 3-pointers in the three conference games.

Gilbert was 9-for-14 overall and ended up one point off his career high of 26 points on Jan. 8 at Iowa State. He had 19 points in a 100-86 victory over Colorado on Wednesday.

T.J. Soyoye and Brian Grawer each added 14 for Missouri (9-6, 2-1), which has beaten Kansas State 16 straight times in the Hearnes Center since 1985. Keyon Dooling was 2-for-12 but had 10 points, seven rebounds and four assists.

Tony Kitt tied a season high with 21 points and had 11 rebounds for Kansas State (8-6, 1-2), which has lost three of four. Kitt has five double-doubles this season.

But Missouri outrebounded Kansas State 46-34 overall, only the fifth time the Tigers have done that all season. They've won all five games.

After shooting 34 percent in the first half, Missouri made six shots in a row and nine of 11 to take a 17-point lead at 56-39 on a 3-pointer by Grawer with 12:20 left. Five of the baskets were 3-pointers, and Gilbert, known for his streaky shooting, made two in a span of 21 seconds.

Gilbert was the exception to Missouri's cold first-half shooting, going 4-for-6 with a pair of 3-pointers.

The Tigers also overcame foul problems in the first half to take a 30-22 lead. Coach Quin Snyder was deep into his bench with Jeff Hafer, Gilbert and Soyoye each picking up two fouls.

The Wildcats shot only 32 percent and had 13 turnovers in the first half, and never trailed by fewer than eight points in the second half. Kansas State finished with 20 turnovers.