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Missouri rolls over Kansas State, avenges earlier loss

Feb 26, 2009 - 6:41 AM COLUMBIA, Missouri (Ticker) -- Unfortunately for Kansas State, Missouri is nowhere near the team it was when they first met in late January.

DeMarre Carroll scored 21 points and grabbed 14 rebounds as eighth-ranked Missouri was hardly threatened in Wednesday's 94-74 victory over Kansas State.

Leo Lyons and Laurence Bowers both had 16 points for the Tigers (24-4, 11-2 Big 12), who won for the seventh straight time.

Prior to that win streak, Missouri absorbed an 88-72 setback in Manhattan on January 28, dropping its second league loss in six games. Since then, the Tigers have been on a roll, picking up NCAA Tournament resume wins at Texas and home against Kansas while climbing up to their highest ranking of the season.

"I thought we got better from the last game," Missouri coach Mike Anderson said. "K-State, we know they are a tremendous defensive team, but I thought our guys probably had a little bit more energy tonight. Our bench play was outstanding. Any guy we put out on the floor had super energy."

Missouri put that newfound strength on display against the Wildcats, taking a 16-8 lead seven minutes in and building a 55-32 advantage at the break. Matt Lawrence had 12 of his 13 points in the opening 20 minutes as the Tigers notched 22 points in the paint and went 17-of-20 on free throws.

"That first half was probably the best first half we've played since I've been here," Anderson said. "Our guys were very aggressive and had a lot of energy."

Missouri also was strong defensively, holding Kansas State to 35 percent (12-of-34) shooting and forcing 11 turnovers.

"I think it was our defense, our energy, we were getting blocks, steals and layups," Carroll said. "Matt (Lawrence) started knocking down shots and got the whole team going."

Missouri extended the lead to 29 points early in the second half behind six free throws by Lyons and cruised the rest of the way.

The Wildcats (19-9, 7-6) could get no closer than 16 points thereafter despite 33 points from Denis Clemente.

Overall, the Tigers went 33-of-43 at the stripe, helping to make up for a 42-percent (28-of-66) effort from the floor.

J.T. Tiller chipped in 15 points, six rebounds and six assists for Missouri, which ended up with a 42-28 advantage in points in the paint.

Fred Brown scored nine points and Ron Anderson added 10 rebounds and three points for Kansas State, which committed 21 turnovers.