Big first half proves difference for Mizzou

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Matt Lawrence scored 18 points and DeMarre Carroll added 15 as Missouri beat Centenary 80-52 on Tuesday night.

Leo Lyons added 10 points and a team-high seven rebounds for the Tigers (11-2), who have scored at least 80 points in 13 games this season.

Centenary (2-11) got 17 points and a game-high 12 rebounds from Nick Stallings in suffering its seventh straight loss. Chase Adams scored 14 points and Gary Redus added 10.

The Gentlemen committed 16 turnovers and shot 35.4 percent from the field to Missouri's 56 percent.

But the Gents outshot the Tigers at the free-throw line, hitting 17 of 24 attempts (71 percent) to Missouri's 8 of 17 (47 percent).

Lawrence, one of the top 10 3-point shooters in Missouri history, was 4 of 7 from 3-point range.

"I went out there and took opportunities, and it's good for your confidence for some more shots to fall as well," Lawrence said.

Missouri outscored Centenary 38-19 in the first half, but just 42-33 in the second.

"It was a weird game, and Centenary had a lot to do with that," Missouri coach Mike Anderson said. "I thought we were a little flat, to tell you the truth, but it's something we will continue to work at."