MU makes semis of Guardian Classic

The Tigers improved to 2-0 with a 77-61 victory over Houston.

By R.B. Fallstrom ~ The Associated Press

ST. LOUIS -- Linas Kleiza had 19 points and 14 rebounds and Missouri outscored Houston 20-1 over a 6 1/2 minute span that began near the end of the first half of a 77-61 victory over Houston in the second round of the Guardians Classic on Tuesday night.

Missouri (2-0) endured a first-half stretch in which it made one basket in more than 11 minutes and fell behind by five points. The Tigers had little trouble scoring the rest of the game, shooting 50 percent and going 12-for-23 from 3-point range.

Missouri hit only three of its first 18 from long range in the opening round against Brown.

Thomas Gardner scored all but three of his 18 points in the second half for the Tigers, who advanced to the semifinals on Tuesday in Kansas City. Jimmy McKinney had 16 points and Jason Conley 14, and Kleiza added five assists.

Andre Owens had 16 points and Lanny Smith 14 for Houston (1-1), which last faced Missouri in 1982. Houston rallied from a 10-point second half deficit in the first round against Sam Houston State for its first season-opening victory since 1999, but never threatened a repeat comeback.

The Cougars led 29-24 with 3:47 left in the first half before the roof caved in. Jason Conley had a 3-pointer at the end of the half and another at the start of the second half of the run that gave Missouri a comfortable 44-30 lead with 15:30 to play.

The lead grew to as many as 21 points later in the half, a 62-41 bulge with 7:36 left.

Missouri totaled four points during its first-half dry spell, a basket by Kevin Young and two free throws, before heating up.

The Tigers have had double-double outings in each of the first two games. Gardner had the first of his career on Monday with 19 points and 12 rebounds and has come off the bench both games.

Kleiza had three double doubles as a freshman last season and missed one in the opener by only one rebound.