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Denmon helps Missouri take down Texas Tech

Feb 16, 2011 - 6:31 AM Columbia, MO (Sports Network) - Marcus Denmon led the way with 20 points and Kim English chipped in with 16 points and seven rebounds, as No. 20 Missouri held on for a 92-84 win over Texas Tech in Big 12 action.

"Denmon was in a rhythm tonight on offense, and I thought we needed that because we weren't getting much production from our forwards," Mizzou coach Mike Anderson said. "Texas Tech is a team that won't go away, and they capitalized on our mistakes to stay in the game."

Michael Dixon finished with 13 points before fouling out for Missouri (20-6, 6-5 Big 12), which has won two straight and three of its last four, and improved to a perfect 16-0 at home this season. Laurence Bowers added 10 points for the victors.

John Roberson led all scorers with 21 points and David Tairu netted 17 for Texas Tech (11-15, 3-8), which has dropped four in a row after winning the previous three contests.

"I was proud of the way my guys competed. They didn't give up," Texas Tech coach Pat Knight said.

Ahead 65-62 nearly 6 1/2 minutes into the second half, the Tigers used an uptempo pace to quickly build a double-digit advantage and started to pull away.

Ricky Kreklow knocked down a jumper to start a 12-2 run and after Phil Pressey hit from long distance coupled with a pair of English free throws, Missouri was up 77-64 with 9:31 to play.

Missouri would not let the game get away despite Texas Tech pulling to within three, 87-84, after Roberson buried a triple with 1:15 left. Bowers answered with a layup on the Tigers' next possession and they would hold on for the victory.

Missouri jumped out to a 30-22 lead just past the midway point of the opening half, before Texas Tech went on a 16-2 run. Brad Reese's three-point play capped the surge to give the Red Raiders a 38-32 advantage with 5:27 before the break.

However, Denmon finished off a 13-4 burst with a triple to put the Tigers up 45-39 with 1:31 left. Tairu's three and a layup by Jaye Crockett cut the Texas Tech deficit to one at 45-44 heading into the locker room.

Game Notes

Missouri improved to 12-8 in the all-time series versus Texas Tech, which includes a 7-2 advantage in Columbia...Pressey ended with nine points and four assists for Missouri, which shot 58.1 percent from the floor and hit 8-of-17 from three-point territory. Texas Tech made 49.2 percent from the field and 6- of-13 from beyond the arc.