Sports

The third-ranked Missouri Tigers continue their quest for a Big 12 regular season crown, as they welcome the Oklahoma State Cowboys to Columbia this evening, for a conference showdown at Mizzou Arena.

Frank Haith’s debut season in Columbia has been highly successful, as the Tigers have won 23 of their first 25 games. The team is currently boasting of a five-game win streak following an impressive 72-57 win over a strong Baylor squad on Saturday. The victory improved Missouri to 14-0 at home and 10-2 in the Big 12, trailing only Kansas (11-2) in the standings.

Kevin Durant is starting to form a collection of game-winning shots. For the latest addition, the lanky forward hit a go-ahead bank shot with 14.2 seconds remaining and the NBA-leading Oklahoma City Thunder overcame career performances by Monta Ellis and David Lee to beat the Golden State Warriors 119-116 on Tuesday night.

“I don’t think he called bank,” Warriors coach Mark Jackson said.

Oklahoma State kept its focus keen in downing Texas Tech 80-63 on Tuesday night, missing just two free throws out of 35 attempts. More >

Just four days earlier, South Carolina State Coach Tim Carterthought his club did a decent job handling No. 15 Pittsburgh’s defensive pressure in a 69-55 road loss.

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Oklahoma athletic department officials say the Sooners’ annual spring football game is scheduled for April 16.

Also Tuesday, the university said the Sooners are tentitavely scheduled to start spring drills on March 8.

Oklahoma is set to return 29 position players who started at least one game this past season, when the Sooners went 12-2, won their seventh Big 12 Conference title in 11 years and beat Connecticut in the Fiesta Bowl.

Among those returning will be first-team All-America wide receiver Ryan Broyles and linebacker Travis Lewis, who has led Oklahoma in tackles each of the last three seasons.