Missouri’s second straight victory in the series evened the ancient border rivalry at 51-51-9. The defeat assured Kansas, 2-7, of its seventh straight losing season.

 KU place-kicker Johnny Beck’s string of missed field goal attempts grew to seven halfway through the first quarter when he misfired on a 40-yarder after a low snap. Beck’s three-point skid reached eight with 5:02 remaining before halftime when he kicked a low brick from 43 yards. A low snap appeared to mess up Beck’s wide-right PAT in the second quarter.

 Mizzou kicker Michael Matheny wasn’t immune to the yips. Matheny was wide left on a 46-yard attempt early in the third quarter and his PAT attempt later in that period was blocked.

 Wide receiver Derick Mills lined up at tailback on a couple of occasions.

 Wide receiver Brandon Rideau attempted his second career pass on a gimmick play in the first quarter. After a reverse, Rideau shook off a would-be tackler, stumbled and threw incomplete in the vicinity of tailback Clark Green. Rideau tossed an incomplete pass earlier in the season on a similar trick play.

 For the first time in five weeks, KU did not fall behind by two touchdowns. MU scored first, but Kansas answered with Bill Whittemore’s 14-yard TD pass to Mark Simmons early in the second quarter.

 Kansas lagged 14-6 at halftime despite running 54 plays to Mizzou’s 29 and outgaining the Tigers, 270 yards to 158. KU had nearly a seven-minute bulge in time of possession. MU finished with a 425-376 advantage in total offense.

 KU is 2-for-6 in two-point conversion attempts this season after Bill Whittemore’s pass intended for Byron Gasaway fell incomplete following the Jayhawks’ second TD. KU coach Mark Mangino complained animatedly that Gasaway had been knocked down in the end zone.

 Whittemore, who left with 3:19 remaining in the third quarter, apparently wasn’t the only Jayhawk to suffer a left knee injury. Center and long snapper Greg Nicks was limping and his knee was wrapped in an ice pack after the game.

 Linebacker Leo Etienne was credited with a team-high nine tackles. Safety Zach Dyer had eight stops.

 MU officials pegged Saturday’s homecoming crowd at 60,287. Faurot Field’s capacity is 68,349.

 Four true freshmen  including starting outside linebacker Nick Reid  were on the Jayhawks’ 65-man travel roster. The others were linebackers Kevin Kane and Brandon Perkins, and wide receiver Mark Simmons.

 John Laurie, principal of Blue Valley West High in Overland Park, was the referee in charge of the Big 12 Conference officiating crew.

 Kickoff temperature was 44 degrees under cloudy skies with a 7 mph wind out of the north.