Friday, Nov. 06, 2009

Mizzou hits Truman State with its bench, leads 50-25 at halftime

COLUMBIA | Missouri’s starting five bolted to a 15-3 lead on overwhelmed Truman State. Then things really got interesting.

Mizzou’s second five -- sophomores Miguel Paul, Marcus Denmon, Laurence Bowers and Steve Moore were joined on the court by freshman Michael Dixon -- hit the Bulldogs with a 12-2 scoring run in the next 3 minutes, 34 seconds.

Denmon, Moore and Dixon are all products of K.C. Pump ‘N’ Run, a powerhouse AAU program.

And Missouri’s season-opening exhibition victory was over sooner than even Truman State’s 6-21 record from a year ago might have indicated it would be.

At the half: Missouri 50, Truman State 25.

Seniors Keith Ramsey, Zaire Taylor and J.T. Tiller, along with junior Justin Safford and sophomore Kimmie English started the game for Mizzou.

Ramsey finished the first half as MU’s leading scorer with nine points and four rebounds. Tiller and Taylor each scored seven points.

Off the second unit, Bowers and Dixon stood out the most, each with eight points. Dixon earned his hitting four of five shots. Bowers added a game-high six rebounds.

Mizzou produced 14 turnovers (off 12 steals) in the first half with its normal blend of suffocating defense and fast break reactions off turnovers. And what time is the kickoff for that football game with Baylor on Saturday?

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