Mizzou Basketball Head Coach Frank Haith announced that Keion Bell, 17th on Pepperdine University’s career scoring list with 1,365 tallies, has received his release and has signed a grant-in-aid agreement with the University of Missouri.

Bell will sit out the 2011-12 season as part of NCAA transfer guidelines and will have one season of eligibility remaining, beginning with the 2012-13 campaign.

The 6-foot-3, 200-pounder will sit out next season alongside fellow transfer, Earnest Ross (Auburn). Both players will play vital roles for the 2012-13 campaign following the graduation of senior guards Marcus Denmon, Kim English, Matt Pressey and Jarrett Sutton.

Bell brings scoring and a defensive mentality to the Tiger roster. The Los Angeles native was Pepperdine’s top scorer each season in Malibu, Calif., including a career high 18.9 points per game as a junior in 20 games played last season. He made 72 starts in his 83 career contests and averaged 4.7 rebounds and ripped away 104 career steals.