Dec. 15, 2007

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COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) -- Matt Lawrence and Stefhon Hannah each had 14 points and Missouri scored 18 straight points in the first half to put the game away early in an 81-44 victory over McNeese State on Saturday night.

DeMarre Carroll and reserve Marshall Brown added 11 points apiece for Missouri (7-3), playing only its second game in two weeks but showing no sign of rust. Coach Mike Anderson might have kept his regulars on the floor longer due to the breaks in the schedule and the Tigers led by as many as 47 points -- at 76-29 -- in the second half.

Missouri had a season high for 3-pointers, going 11-for-24, with Hannah going 4-for-8 and Lawrence 3-for-7. Leo Lyons added 10 points and seven rebounds and Jason Horton had seven assists.

Jarvis Bradley had 13 points and 10 rebounds for McNeese State (5-4), forced into season-worsts for turnovers (26) and shooting percentage (29.8) while going 1-for-20 from 3-point range. John Ford, who averages 11 points, was held to four on 1-of-8 shooting.

Missouri is 6-0 at home and has a 24-game winning streak at home against non-conference opponents dating to 2005-06, with 17 of those coming in two seasons under Anderson.

Missouri beat its first five home opponents by an average of nearly 26 points before the McNeese State blowout. The Tigers hit three of their first four 3-pointers and 39-9 with 4:39 to go in the first half after seven players contributed to the 18-0 run.

Missouri had more baskets (12) than McNeese State had shots (11) midway through the first half while grabbing a 31-9 lead, and the disparity kept growing. The Tigers coasted into halftime with a 44-18 cushion while holding McNeese State to 29.7-percent shooting and forcing 16 turnovers.

Second-year McNeese State coach Dave Simmons fell below .500 for his career at 20-21 after his team went nearly nine points without scoring during Missouri's first-half run.