Freshman Jason Crowe Jr. scored 23 points in his college debut, and Kennard Davis Jr. added 19 points off the bench Tuesday night for Missouri in a 111-50 victory against Cleveland State in Columbia, Mo.
Another freshman, Toni Bryant, scored 15 points with six rebounds and three blocks for the Tigers, who had seven players score in double figures. They collectively shot 60.9% from the field and made 14 of 31 on 3-pointers.
A top-five national prospect as a 6-foot-4 combo guard, Crowe made 9 of 16 shots, including 4 of 7 from 3-point range. He added two assists with two turnovers in 30 minutes.
Davis made 7 of 9 shots (4 of 6 from three) off the bench.
Kansas transfer Bryson Tiller added 10 points and nine rebounds, and fifth-year forward Mark Mitchell scored 11 points with 10 assists. Jamier Jones (13 points) and Trent Pierce (11) also reached double figures.
Missouri (1-0) started the game on a 15-0 run, with Tiller putting down a two-handed dunk after a quick baseline move for the Tigers’ first points.
Bryant had quick two blocks and made three 3-pointers in the first 4 1/2 minutes.
Brandon White put Cleveland State on the board with a putback at the 15:45 mark of the first half.
Crowe hit a step-back three after a fake toward the hoop, and later wiggled his way into making a fall-away baseline jumper on a three-point play.
Missouri led 56-18 at halftime on 59.5% shooting, and led by as many as 63 in the second half.
Missouri, which fell in the first round of the NCAA Tournament a season ago, have made the NCAAs three times in coach Dennis Gates’ four seasons. The Tigers came in unranked in the Associated Press Top 25 poll, but had the most votes among those on the outside.
Deandre Jones and Rayvon Griffith scored 13 points apiece to lead Cleveland State (0-1). The Vikings shot 32.8% from the field and made 2 of 16 from 3-point range.
Cleveland State went 11-22 (6-14 Horizon League) in coach Rob Summers’ first season. Summers was previously an assistant under Gates at Mizzou.
–Field Level Media
