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Morris twins lead No. 2 Kansas past Missouri

Feb 8, 2011 - 5:44 AM Lawrence, KS (Sports Network) - Marcus Morris scored 22 points with eight rebounds and his twin brother Markieff added 16 points and seven rebounds, as second-ranked Kansas put on an offensive display in a 103-86 waxing of No. 19 Missouri at Allen Fieldhouse.

The loss was Missouri's 12th straight in the venerable college basketball landmark, and it was undone by shoddy defense. Kansas made nearly 61 percent of its shots, 11 three-pointers and received a career-best 17 points off the bench from Mario Little. Tyshawn Taylor donated 13 points and Travis Releford added 10 for Kansas (23-1, 8-1 Big 12), which rolled to victory despite missing star freshman Josh Selby for the second straight game due to a leg injury.

"You look at the difference in the game and it was the sixth, seventh and eighth man going 14-of-17 from the field. I don't think there are a lot of teams that have that luxury," Kansas head coach Bill Self said of the Jayhawks bench.

Laurence Bowers scored 12 of his 19 points in the first half when Missouri stayed close. Phil Pressey contributed 17 points and Ricardo Ratliffe compiled 12 for the Tigers (18-6, 4-5), who have lost three of four overall.

"I thought we could have played a little better defensively. I thought we had opportunities," said Missouri head coach Mike Anderson.

Kansas shot nearly 56 percent from the floor in taking a 46-42 lead in the locker room. Little scored 12 points in the opening 20 minutes, but Jayhawks put on a scoring exhibition in the second half, running their offense like clockwork. Marcus Morris' jumper capped eight successive points for a 56-46 lead and Taylor's trey moments later opened an 11-point margin.

Little's third trey of the game created 12 points worth of breathing room at 72-60, and Releford connected from deep on the next possession. Marcus Morris' jumper made the score 77-61, as the Jayhawks scored a stunning 31 points in the first 10 minutes of the second half.

The teams basically exchanged baskets in the final 10-plus minutes as the margin hung between 12 and 17 points the rest of the way.

Missouri came out strong off the opening tip, making 8-of-11 shots in taking a 22-17 lead. Dixon's triple from the top of the circle made the score 20-14 and he answered a brief Kansas spurt with a mid-range bucket for the five-point lead.

Little's trey put a stamp on seven straight points for a 26-23 lead and the teams traded blows in a highly entertaining offensive first half.

Game Notes

Kansas controlled the backboards, 38-21, and grabbed 14 offensive rebounds...Each team played a clean game with Kansas totaling 23 assists, including seven by Brady Morningstar, to just 12 turnovers and Missouri compiling 16 assists to eight giveaways...Missouri's Marcus Denmon scored nine of his 11 in the second half and Matt Pressey joined him with 11 points...The Jayhawks lead the all-time series, 170-94.