Baylor vs. Missouri: Live Score, Reaction and Analysis

The Baylor Bears and Missouri Tigers meet up today in the Big 12 tournament final. Both teams are already easily into the NCAA tourney, but that doesn't mean this isn't an intriguing matchup.

The best part of this game will be the contrasting styles. Baylor has a bunch of long, athletic, NBA-quality players while Missouri loves to run with four guards and shoots the long-ball at an incredibly efficient rate.

That style has benefited Missouri so far, as the Tigers won both meetings during the regular season, but it's always hard to beat a team thrice. 

Follow along here for live updates and analysis as Baylor and Missouri battle it out in Kansas City.

Missouri wins

The Tigers are Big 12 tournament champions as they have knocked off Baylor by a score of 90-75.

This was an incredibly dominating and impressive performance. I don't normally like teams that shoot the three so much, but when Missouri shoots, you expect it to go in.

This is about as efficient as an offense can get.

Watch out for the Tigers come March.

Ricardo Ratliffe fouls out

There are only four minutes left and Missouri has a comfy 75-65 lead, but Ratliffe, Missouri's only starting big man, has fouled out.

This highlights the problem with Missouri's depth, as they'll have to rely on rarely used Steve Moore, but the Tigers should survive.

This doesn't feel like a championship game

Missouri got ahead early and they haven't looked back. Baylor has continued to fight, and I like that, but the Tigers are simply too good.

Every time it looks like Baylor is going to make a charge, Missouri scores five or six straight.

Missouri leads, 69-60. Just under six minutes left. 

Perry Jones warming up

If Baylor is going to come back, they will need Perry Jones to lead the charge. The sophomore is certainly talented and capable of putting up points in a hurry, and that's starting to show.

He's grabbing offensive rebounds and has put in a couple straight hoops. He now has 14 points and seven rebounds.

However, the Bears haven't put together enough defensive stops, and Missouri still leads 66-57. Nine minutes to play.

Missouri is so explosive

The Tigers have shown with the start of this second half why they are so good. They can score in a hurry. They've gotten a few stops against Baylor, gotten into the break, and scored quickly.

As a result, the Tigers have increased their lead to 56-42. This tweet from Jon Rothstein explains what it's like to watch this team.

Halftime

It's half and Missouri leads 43-37. Baylor has been close all game, but I still think the Bears are lucky to be in the situation they are.

Missouri is shooting 54 percent compared to Baylor's 44 while the Tigers have just three turnovers and the Bears have five.

Baylor has stayed in, however, because of the job its done on the glass. The Bears have nine offensive rebounds and 21 boards overall compared to 13 for Mizzou.

Perry Jones leads Baylor with nine points while Marcus Denmon and Ricardo Ratliffe both have 11 for Missouri.

Baylor Staying Close

Missouri is still hitting at a fantastic rate and the Tigers are starting to keep Baylor off the offensive glass, as the Bears have been at six for a long time.

Still, the Bears are keeping close as Missouri leads 26-22. Baylor should consider itself happy to be this close as Missouri hasn't done much wrong.

Quincy Acy has two fouls for Baylor. 

Fast Pace Early

The Bears are really going to have to step up on defense, because Missouri is getting out in transition and doing whatever it wants.

The Tigers started off by hitting some shots outside, but Flip Pressey is now getting into the lane at will and Marcus Denmon has added some inside shots.

Baylor has stayed close with some three-pointers, but it better be careful or it is going to get blown out.

Missouri leads 18-12 with just under 14 minutes to go in the first half.

Both Teams Playing As Expected

Missouri has come out white-hot, hitting three of its last four shots.

Baylor, on the other hand, has had trouble holding on to the ball, but it has been crashing the offensive board, leading to two buckets.

Missouri leads 8-4 early on.