The Missouri Tigers opened up play in the Big 12 at Mizzou Arena this afternoon against the 12 th ranked Texas Longhorns with a 97-84 win.
The Tigers were red hot in the 2 nd half, hitting their first five shots to go on a 12-0 run to turn a 40-38 halftime deficit into a 52-42 lead. The highlight of the game came with about six minutes to go when DeMarre Carroll nailed a three pointer to give the Tigers a 78-63 lead. Five Tigers scored in double figures. Keon Lawrence with 18 points, 15 in the first half, Jason Horton with 16, Stefhon Hannah 15, Marshall Brown 14, and DeMarre Carroll 12.
The Tigers struggled with the Longhorns size inside, as the Longhorns scored 14 in the first half on second chances. 6’7 Damion James had a big first half for the Longhorns with 19 points, but quiet in the 2 nd finishing with 27. Tiger Keon Lawrence was hot from outside with 15 points including a perfect 3 of 3 from the three point line. Texas had 9 offensive rebounds in that first half, but the Tigers defensive effort in the second half stepped up, scrapping and clawing for loose balls and rebounds on the defensive end. One thing that has hurt the Tigers at times is that portion of the game when they go on a cold slump, but that never really happened today.
The Tigers are at Iowa State on Wednesday before next Saturday’s national television showdown with #3 Kansas
