Mark Mitchell scored 20 points as the Missouri Tigers routed the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions 112-63 Sunday afternoon in Columbia, Mo.
Anthony Robinson II had 11 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists for the Tigers (5-1). Caleb Grill scored 14 points and Tamar Bates added 13.
Chop Paljor scored 22 points on 6-of-8 shooting from 3-point range for the Golden Lions (1-6).
The Tigers flexed their depth against the undermanned Golden Lions, using 16 players – with 11 getting double-digit minutes and 13 scoring points.
Missouri forced 19 turnovers and scored 33 points off of them. The Tigers outscored the Golden Lions 29-10 at the free-throw line.
Missouri struggled early offensively against the Golden Lions’ 3-2 zone, missing 8 of 10 shots to start the game. But the Tigers grabbed four offensive rebounds in the first 4:10 of the game as they sprung ahead 8-2.
After a timeout, Arkansas-Pine Bluff responded with a 10-4 run to tie the game 12-12 on a 3-pointer by Raphael Dumont.
Missouri answered that with a 12-4 push fueled by put-back baskets by Robinson and Grill. Then the Tigers increased their lead to 39-18 with 15 straight points, with Mitchell converting a three-point play and Grill hitting a 3-point jumper.
The Tigers kept attacking, scoring eight straight points to push their lead to 47-19 with 2:09 left in the first half.
Despite missing 13 of 17 shots from 3-point range in the first half, Missouri built a 52-25 lead on the strength of 10 offensive rebounds, 14 second-chance points and 19 points off turnovers.
Klemen Vuga scored for the Golden Lions to open the second half, but the Tigers rattled off the next 17 points, with Mitchell scoring in transition on consecutive possessions, as the rout grew to 69-27 with 14:06 left.
The Golden Lions failed to get closer than 39 points after that.
–Field Level Media
