Keon Lawrence has always wanted to the ball. At every level, Lawrence knew when the game was on the line, he wanted the ball in his hands.

"I just like having the ball in my hands when the situation is tight," said Missouri's freshman guard. "I'm just calm, I don't force it."

On Saturday, Lawrence got that chance. Army had put together a 16-0 run that lasted just over five minutes and pulled the Black Knights even with Missouri at 42. Enter Lawrence, who, to that point, had taken four shots in his collegiate career.

A 15-foot jumper off the right elbow splashed down for the freshman guard. Missouri went up 44-42 and never trailed again in a 67-58 win.

"Coach is always telling us, let the game come to you, don't go get it," Lawrence said. "That shot just came to me. I knew I had him off the dribble and I just took the shot. It's the same shot I take every day in practice."

With a team lacking players who have been in many clutch situations, it might as well have been a freshman that stepped up when the Tigers needed a big basket.

Lawrence had significant second half help from junior post man Kalen Grimes. Grimes had a career-high 18 points and 11 rebounds. He scored 11 points and grabbed seven boards in the second half.

"They had no answer for KG down low, so I just kept throwing it to him," said Matt Lawrence. "That was our best offense tonight."

The Tigers tip against the Stetson Hatters at 4 p.m. Sunday.

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