Paul helps lead Tigers past Huskers 70-53

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- An unexpected source of offense helped Missouri put away Nebraska.

Reserve Miguel Paul scored a career-best 15 points with 10 coming during a 15-1 second-half run that broke up a tight game in a 70-53 victory Saturday night. In the first three Big 12 games, Paul didn't score.

"I like getting assists more than scoring, but when they're playing off you, you've got no choice but to shoot it," Paul said. "I found a little groove."

Justin Safford added nine points and 11 rebounds and Zaire Taylor had 12 points for the Tigers (15-4, 3-1 Big 12), who won their 31st in a row at home.

"Miguel coming in and giving us the energy and the play he did, and the production he did was very big," Tigers guard J.T. Tiller said. "He definitely gave us a lift we needed to get over that hump."

Sek Henry had 15 points and Brandon Richardson added 11 points and five assists for Nebraska (12-7, 0-4), which kept the score close most of the game by forcing Missouri into a half-court game.

"They were going to grind it out, so to speak," Missouri coach Mike Anderson said. "I was glad to see our guys really step it up in the second half. You've got to be patient."

Nebraska coach Doc Sadler and his players blamed the second-half fade on stretches of inconsistent play.

"We keep going through the same thing," Henry said. "The last six, seven minutes of the game we go into a scoring funk, and it's time for that to stop.

"Hopefully next game it finally stops, and we get our first win."

Missouri led 28-26 at the half while frequently settling for 3-point attempts. Tigers guard Marcus Denmon scored all five of his points in the final 1:18, providing a late boost after Nebraska had scored nine straight points to take the lead.

Paul, a junior guard, entered the game averaging 3.6 points and topped his previous career high of 14 points against Chattanooga on Nov. 24, 2009. Missouri led by one point before its 15-1 run made it 60-45 with 4:17 to go. During that stretch, Paul scored on two free throws, a three-point play, a pull-up jumper in transition and a 3-pointer.

Nebraska's Henry said Paul "just came out of nowhere." Paul scored nearly a point a minute, playing 16 minutes.

"Any of these guys are capable of doing that. They show it in practice," Anderson said. "It was good to see him bring it to the game."

Nebraska went more than seven minutes between field goals in the second half, a slump which ended when Henry scored from inside with 3:25 to play.

Missouri was only 8 for 28 from 3-point range while coming up with just five steals and forcing 12 turnovers, both season lows.

Kim English, the Tigers' leading scorer at 15.3 points per game, was held to six points on 2 for 9 shooting.

Nebraska's Ryan Anderson missed two 3-point attempts, ending his six-game streak of hitting at least two 3s. Freshman Ray Gallegos scored all eight of his points in a four-minute spurt that helped shave Missouri's lead to 45-44 with just under 11 minutes to go.