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No. 7 Missouri routs Oklahoma in Big 12 opener

Jan 4, 2012 - 6:03 AM Columbia, MO (Sports Network) - Kim English totaled 23 points and nine rebounds, and No. 7 Missouri shot the lights out in taking down Oklahoma, 87- 49, in the Big 12 opener for both programs.

The Tigers (14-0, 1-0 Big 12) came in as the nation's best shooting team and continued their torrid stretch by hitting 59.3 percent from the field and 12- of-21 from three-point range to stay undefeated.

Marcus Denmon added 20 points and seven rebounds, while Ricardo Ratliffe and Michael Dixon each scored 13 points in the rout.

"Obviously a great win for us, I thought our guys played extremely well," Missouri head coach Frank Haith said. "I think these guys were really excited about getting into league play."

Oklahoma (10-3, 0-1), in its first true road test, made 33.3 percent of its shots and was led by Andrew Fitzgerald's 18 points.

Missouri scored on its first three possessions for a 7-0 lead, and one of English's five three-pointers made it 16-6 six minutes into the game.

A Fitzgerald jumper cut the deficit to 20-16 near the midway point, but Dixon bookended a subsequent 10-2 run with a pair of three-pointers.

The Tigers shot 60.7 percent over the opening 20 minutes and took a healthy 43-25 lead into the intermission.

The hosts maintained their offensive efficiency out of the break, hitting on their first four touches with Matt Pressey's make from behind the arc yielding a 54-30 advantage.

The difference never dipped below 22 the rest of the way.

"We knew that it would be a tough challenge to come in here, but not offering anymore resistance than we did was quite surprising," Oklahoma head coach Lon Kruger said.

Game Notes

Oklahoma has dropped its last six games in Columbia...Steven Pledger, the Sooners' leading scorer, netted 11 points on 3-of-10 shooting...Missouri won the rebounding battle, 38-23.