COLUMBIA, Mo., March 9 (UPI) -- Kirk Hinrich hit a go-ahead, 25-footer with 23 seconds left Sunday as No. 6 Kansas earned the outright Big 12 title with a 79-74 victory over Missouri, which suffered its first home loss of the season.
Kansas (24-6, 14-2 Big 12) finished one game ahead of Texas for its ninth conference title in the last 15 seasons. The Jayhawks closed the regular season with four straight victories.
"For us to win on this court," said Kansas Coach Roy Williams, "is pretty impressive."
T.J. Ford of Texas, Hollis Price of Oklahoma, and Hinrich's teammate at Kansas, Nick Collison, have received plenty of consideration for Big 12 Player of the Year, but Hinrich also is a candidate with his 17.8 scoring average, and he demonstrated it Sunday with his clutch shot.
The game was tied at 74-74 when Collison threw up an airball from the baseline with 26 seconds to go. Kansas' Michael Lee hustled down the rebound and then found Hinrich on the perimeter.
There was no hesitation from Hinrich as he made his long jumper to give Kansas the lead.
After the backet by Hinrich, Missouri (18-9, 9-7) rushed the ball forward and Rickey Paulding misfired on a three-pointer. Collison got the rebound and Jayhawks point guard Aaron Miles was fouled with eight seconds left. Miles missed his one-and-one opportunity, but the rebound was knocked around and Kansas was able to run out the clock.
Miles helped set up Hinrich's game-winner with a long three-pointer that beat the shot clock with 1:20 remaining, forging a 74-74 tie.
"Aaron's was purely luck," Williams said. "I've never seen a shot go into the basket that hard in my life. Kirk had told me the next shot he took he was going to make, so that one didn't surprise me as much."
Kansas now is 24-6 overall, 14-2 in the Big 12.
"People didn't think we were going anywhere last season," said Kansas guard Aaron Miles. "They said we would have a good regular season and lose. We look forward to proving them wrong again this year."
The Jayhawks shot 46.9 percent (30-of-64) from the field, 42.9 percent (6-of-14) from three-point range, and 59.1 percent (13-of-22) from the free-throw line.
The Tigers shot 40 percent (26-of-65) from the floor, 28 percent (7-of-25) from beyond the arc, and 93.8 percent (15-of-16) from the charity stripe.
Kansas outrebounded Missouri, 44-36, and committed two fewer turnovers, 17, than the Tigers.
Ricky Clemons and Rickey Paulding both scored 21 points for Missouri, while Hinrich and Collison led the Jayhawks with 20 points each.
As the No. 1 seed in the Big 12 Tournament, the Jayhawks have bye Thursday, and will meet the winner of the Iowa State/Kansas State clash on Friday.
The Tigers play Nebraska on Thursday, and if they win, they get Oklahoma State.
