Columbia, Mo. ? There were high-fives, liquid toasts and cheers in Tiger Town bars on Saturday despite Missouri’s West Regional championship loss to Oklahoma.

“Next year, next year,” declared happy fan Monique Coats, cheering for Missouri to the bitter end at the Shiloh Bar & Grill, a fan hangout next to campus. “With these young Tigers, just wait until next year.”

Oklahoma beat Missouri, 81-75, Saturday in San Jose, Calif., reaching the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1988. Although it was the Sooners’ ninth straight victory over its Big 12 rival, Missouri fans still were joyous about their 12th-seeded Tigers’ first trip to the round of eight since 1994.

Missouri was the lowest seeded team ever to advance this far in the NCAA tournament. The Tigers returned to Columbia and a welcome-home rally late Saturday at the Hearnes Center.

Most of coach Quin Snyder’s team is expected to return next year. That made Tiger fan Lee Brownfield smile as he watched the final seconds of the game at Shiloh  and speculated that forward Kareem Rush, who had 17 points Saturday, will choose to stay at Missouri another year rather than turn professional.

“With Kareem and these other players gaining maturity, I think they will only become more seasoned and capable,” said Brownfield, 22, a veterinary student from Boonville.

At the Tiger Team Store near the Hearnes Center, manager Lida Lenz said customer interest in Missouri soared Saturday. The store eventually shut down its e-mail system because it was getting so many notifications about online orders for team merchandise, she said.

Abby Yount, 21, of Washington, Mo., whose black sweater was covered with black-and-gold Missouri stickers, didn’t share the optimism her fellow fans felt.

“I don’t know if they are going to be better next year because they play selfishly,” she said. “I only think Missouri will be potent if they can stay together as a team.”