No. 17 Missouri 83, SIU-Edwardsville 69: Laurence Bowers scored a game-high 20 points to go with seven rebounds and Phil Pressey added 19 points and nine assists as the Tigers pulled away for a season-opening win over the visiting Cougars.
The Cougars used torrid 3-point shooting to lead for most of the first half before Missouri (1-0) closed the half on a 7-0 run for a 40-34 advantage. The Tigers then opened the second half with a 22-8 spurt to break it open.
Jerome Jones scored 17 points and Michael Messer added 13 off the bench for SIU-Edwardsville (0-1).
Bowers was 9-of-14 shooting in his first game since suffering a serious knee injury that caused him to miss all of last season.
Freshman Negus Webster-Chan added 11 points and four assists off the bench for Missouri, and Connecticut transfer Alex Oriakhi scored eight points and grabbed a game-high 15 rebounds.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The Tigers have won 38 of their past 39 home openers as well as 66 consecutive home games against non-conference opponents dating to 2005. … Missouri has won two all-time meetings with SIU-Edwardsville by an average of 32 points.
SIU - Edwardsville | Missouri | |
Jerome Jones 17 | Scoring | Laurence Bowers 20 |
Maurice Wiltz 4 | Assists | Phil Pressey 9 |
Derian Shaffer 8 | Rebounds | Alex Oriakhi 15 |
Michael Messer 8 | Free Throws Made | Phil Pressey 3 |
Maurice Wiltz 2 | Steals | Negus Webster-Chan 3 |
Tim Johnson 1 | Blocks | Alex Oriakhi 3 |
Team | Points | FG% | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA | Assists | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Turnovers |
SIU - Edwardsville | 69 | 33.3 | 11-26 | 12-18 | 11 | 32 | 1 | 5 | 8 |
Missouri | 83 | 47.1 | 7-16 | 12-19 | 20 | 48 | 3 | 7 | 12 |