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Perry Jones is a projected NBA lottery pick who was named Big 12 preseason player of the year, a dazzling athlete with a 7-foot-2 wingspan and a 30-plus-inch vertical leap. Steve Moore is the everyman reserve who averages 3.1 points and inspires the student-led chorus of “Steeeeve!” every time he dashes off the bench.
Advantage: Missouri.
While Jones performed his latest big-game vanishing act, Moore gave the home team — and crowd — a major lift in the fourth-ranked Tigers’ 72-57 victory over sixth-ranked Baylor yesterday at Mizzou Arena.
Moore’s rumbling two-handed slam early in the second half was just one energy play in a day filled with them.
“He was outstanding tonight,” MU Coach Frank Haith said. “He was a live wire. He got his hands on a lot of balls, he deflected balls, he kept the rebounds alive tipping it, took a charge … ”
Moore, who finished with three points and two rebounds, stood in contrast to his more heralded foil. The sophomore Jones scored four points on 2-of-12 shooting — three days after he had five points and four rebounds in the Bears’ 68-54 loss to Kansas. Jones, who averages 14.3 points, finished with eight points in MU’s victory at Baylor.
Bears Coach Scott Drew said he does not know why Jones struggles against Missouri. But the Tigers’ players hinted at one explanation when asked to discuss the play of Moore.
“Steve’s going to bring it with his enthusiasm and just his hard work ethic,” Phil Pressey said.
While Moore is a man of the people — he joins the student section after big wins — the 6-foot-9 center has an aggressive edge on the court. On the possession before his dunk put Missouri ahead 43-37, Moore ripped a rebound out of the clutches of Baylor forward Quincy Miller.
Jones is often criticized for being too passive, as nice a person on the floor as he off. Yesterday, when he nudged over Missouri’s Kim English on the low block — English was whistled for the foul — he immediately extended a hand to help his fallen defender. And moments later, when a teammate rifled an uncatchable pass over his outstretched arms, he pointed to his chest to bear the blame.
Jones was benched the final three minutes after a blown layup and a turnover.
“He’s got such great potential for the future because everyone knows when he’s 24 or 26, the sky is the limit for him,” Drew said. “Problem is, he’s judged on that potential sometime, and that’s hard on everybody.”
TROUBLE ON THE GLASS: MU and Baylor reversed the first-half rebounding script from the earlier meeting in Waco.
In January, the Tigers outrebounded Baylor 21-11 in the first half. Yesterday, the visitors at one point held a 15-3 edge.
Haith refused to use the Bears’ height advantage as an excuse.
“So much is made about length, and they have length and were playing above us,” he said, “but if we do a good job of pushing those guys back and keeping balls alive, then our little guys can come scoop them up. Our effort wasn’t where it needed to be.”
The message came through at halftime. MU outrebounded Baylor 19-17 in the second half.
MOVING ON UP: Marcus Denmon surpassed Jon Sundvold for 10th on Missouri’s career scoring list.
With 16 points, the senior guard now has 1,605 points — eight more than Sundvold scored from 1979-83.
Denmon and Sundvold, a television commentator for the game, spoke afterward.
“I never really look at that stuff,” Sundvold said of the school’s all-time scoring chart. “It’s not a big deal because it happens. He’s had a pretty solid career. I didn’t expect him not to pass that. … Marcus is a great kid. I’m partial because I’m a Kansas City guy.”