Marcus Denmon scored 25 points, Ricardo Ratliffe added 15 points and 10 rebounds and No. 4 Missouri claimed first place in the Big 12 by edging Oklahoma 71-68 on Monday night.

Oklahoma (13-10, 3-8) had the ball with a chance to tie with 5 seconds left. Romero Osby was fouled with 2.5 seconds left and missed both free throws, and Steven Pledger missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer when the offensive rebound was tapped back to him.

The Tigers (22-2, 9-2) moved a half-game ahead of No. 6 Baylor and No. 7 Kansas in the standings. Those teams meet Wednesday night for a chance to pull even with Missouri.

Pledger led Oklahoma with 22 points and Sam Grooms had a career-high 17 points and 10 assists.

Pledger slumped to the ground and put his hands over his face after his potential tying shot clanged off the rim to end the game. He stayed on the floor until two Missouri players and teammate Barry Honore came over to lift him up.

The Tigers barely survived the challenge of refocusing for a road game less than 48 hours after an emotionally charged win in their rivalry game against Kansas put them in a tie for first place. Coach Frank Haith even put them in a team hotel and enforced a curfew after the Border Showdown win to try to keep them in a controlled environment.

In Norman, they found a half-full Lloyd Noble Center and a student section with dozens of empty seats that had newspapers draped over the backs that the occupants would usually hold up during pregame introductions.

It still got loud when the Sooners pulled within 66-64 after Pledger's 3-pointer from the left side with 3:33 to play.

Denmon followed with a jumper from the right side with 2 seconds left on the shot clock before Grooms and Pledger both went 1 for 2 at the free throw line to get Oklahoma back within two.

Kim English then hit a 3-pointer from the right side off Phil Pressey's seventh assist to provide what proved to be the game-winner with 53.6 seconds left.

Andrew Fitzgerald hit two free throws for Oklahoma with 41.6 seconds remaining and Michael Dixon missed on a drive to the basket to give Oklahoma one last chance with 5 seconds left.

It was a nothing like the teams' previous meeting, won 87-49 by the Tigers on their home court. Missouri held a 15-rebound advantage in that one but Oklahoma came out ahead 36-22 on the boards on Monday. Continued...