Jacob Crews scored 20 points and grabbed eight rebounds as Missouri routed Cleveland State 86-59 Friday afternoon in Columbia, Mo.
Mark Mitchell, Sebastian Mack, Luke Northweather and Annor Boateng each scored 10 points for the Tigers (8-0).
Dayan Nessah scored 14 points and grabbed nine rebounds for the Vikings (3-6). Jaidon Lipscomb added 12 points on 4-for-9 shooting from 3-point range.
Missouri used its size advantage to earn a 47-26 rebounding margin and an 18-9 edge in offensive rebounds.
After the Tigers turned the ball over on their first two possessions of the game, they settled down and broke out to a 23-0 lead. Mack, Jevon Porter and Northweather hit 3-point jumpers to get the offense rolling.
Cleveland State missed its first 11 shots and turned the ball over seven times in the first nine minutes of the game. The Vikings finally got on the scoreboard when Nessah made two three throws.
Nessah scored two baskets and Foster Wonders hit a 3-point jumper as the Vikings finally stabilized.
The Vikings used an 18-10 run to cut their deficit to 38-22. Lipscomb and Chevalier Emery hit 3-point jumpers to cap the rally.
Despite missing 15 of 19 shots from beyond the arc in the first half, the Tigers built a 46-24 lead. They grabbed nine offensive rebounds and scored 12 second-chance points to offset that cold shooting.
Missouri forced 12 turnovers and scored 17 points off them. That helped them build a 26-10 edge in points in the paint by halftime.
After a sluggish offensive start in the second half, the Tigers got going with two 3-point jumpers and a run-out dunk by Crews.
The Vikings answered with two 3-pointers apiece by Wonders and Lipscomb as the game sped up.
Mack’s triple pushed Missouri’s lead to 70-44 with 7:58 left. Cleveland State got no closer than 20 points after that.
–Field Level Media
