Dec. 30, 2010

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COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) - Marcus Denmon matched his season best with five 3-pointers and scored 22 points, helping No. 10 Missouri to a surprisingly decisive 81-58 victory over Old Dominion on Thursday night.

Reserve Michael Dixon added 18 points and four assists and Matt Pressey had 15 points, five rebounds and three steals for the Tigers (13-1).

Missouri has won eight in a row for its first unbeaten December since 1991-92. The Tigers won their 56th in a row at home against non-conference opponents and made it look easy against the Colonial Athletic Association's preseason favorite (9-3), which entered 12th in the RPI off a strong early schedule that included a three-point loss to Georgetown in the opener.

Missouri led 37-29 at the half behind 14 points from Denmon and pulled away with 11-2 and 12-2 runs in the second half, ending Old Dominion's four-game winning streak.

Poor free throw shooting didn't hold the Tigers back. They were only 14 for 22 with three players missing a pair.

Missouri was 9-for-19 overall from 3-point range, which Denmon going 5-for-8 and Dixon 3-for-3.

Frank Hassel had 11 points and reserve Marquel De Lancey added 10 for Old Dominion, which committed a season-high 21 turnovers. The Monarchs outrebounded their 13th straight opponent to open the season with a slim 33-32 advantage, but were limited to nine rebounds after entering with an average of 17 per game.

Missouri had five players in double figures with Kim English scoring 11 points and Ricardo Ratliffe 10.

Denmon had 14 points and was 3 for 4 from 3-point range in the first half, leaving Old Dominion with its largest deficit at the break.

The school announced the game as a sellout on its web site earlier in the day, but announced attendance of 13,107 was about 2,000 shy of capacity.