Nov 29, 2001

Box Score

By R.B. FALLSTROM
AP Sports Writer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) - A so-so opponent couldn't give No. 3 Missouri the blahs.

Kareem Rush had his second straight 24-point game and hit six 3-pointers in a 106-68 victory over depleted Jackson State 106-68 Thursday night.

Missouri's three previous games had been victories over Alabama and Iowa, both ranked, and Xavier in the John Wooden Tradition, but there was no letdown.

"This game was actually a little bit difficult because I guess people thought we were going to let down," Rush said. "We tried really hard not to go out there and not play to our competition, so I'm happy."

Missouri's effort, especially in the second half, pleased coach Quin Snyder.

"I like how we finished the game," Snyder said. "It shouldn't matter who you're playing, where you're playing or how you're playing, you should try to play the right way."

Rush, the Big 12 player of the week, was 6-for-8 from 3-point range and 8-for-14 overall. He's shooting 47 percent from beyond the arc this season.

"Most guys who are that quick can't shoot, which really makes him special," Jackson State coach Andy Stoglin said. "You have to stay back on him because he's so quick, but if you stay too far back he'll shoot over you all night."

As he has in other early-season games, Rush scored at will at times. In one 62-second stretch in the second half, he scored eight points on a pair of 3-pointers and two free throws.

"If I'm hitting my shot, I'm going to shoot it," Rush said. "My shot was falling tonight, so sometimes that's going to happen."

Arthur Johnson had 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Tigers (6-0), off to their best start since 1991-92 when they began the season 11-0. Missouri is 7-0 against Jackson State (1-3).

Missouri was especially dominant inside, outrebounding Jackson State 54-26 and limiting the visitors to three offensive rebounds. The Tigers also were 11-for-21 from 3-point range.

Rickey Paulding and Clarence Gilbert added 16 points for Missouri. Paulding, who tied his career best, had two spectacular slams in the second half.

"Rickey is the dunk master," Rush said. "He's going to be the highlight film for the year."

Jackson State is without seven players, including four starters, who were charged with sexual battery and rape earlier this month. Raymond Appleberry had 20 points, Tim Henderson 13 and Eric Large 10 for Jackson State.

"If I had my whole team, we would have made this interesting," coach Stoglin said. "We could have surprised some people this year, but I had to put those young kids out there and go with them."

The game was no contest early. Missouri made its first eight shots, including three by Rush, and jumped out front 17-10 in the first five minutes.

Missouri didn't miss a shot until Rush was short on a 3-pointer with 14:34 to go in the first half.

The Tigers led by as many as 19 points in the first half after Wesley Stokes drove the length of the floor for a layup with 5:02 remaining. Large kept Jackson State without shouting distance with three long line-drive 3-pointers.