Missouri
Central Michigan
Missouri Takes Down Central Michigan, 87-76
11/12/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 12, 2007
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) -- DeMarre Carroll had 23 points and eight rebounds despite foul trouble that left him on the bench most of the second half, and Missouri played well enough without its star in an 87-76 opening victory over Central Michigan on Monday night.
Leo Lyons added 18 points for the Tigers, 18-12 in coach Mike Anderson's first season. Missouri has won 19 in a row over nonconference opponents at home, dating to a loss to Sam Houston State on Nov. 14, 2005.
Missouri got strong offensive games inside from Carroll, who was 10-for-12, and Lyons, who was 8-for-9. That helped the Tigers overcome 4-for-21 3-point shooting and Central Michigan's 35-33 rebounding advantage.
Jeremy Allen had 17 points and hit three 3-pointers for Central Michigan, 13-18 last season in its first season under coach Ernie Zeigler. Chase Simon had 14 points and reserve Chris Kellermann added 13 for the Chippewas, picked to finish third in the Mid-American Conference West division.
The 6-foot-8 Carroll, a transfer from Vanderbilt who is Anderson's nephew, dominated whenever he was on the floor. He played only 21 minutes before fouling out with 3:23 to go.
Carroll scored nine straight points during one stretch in the first half and was virtually unstoppable inside, going 10-for-12 with both misses coming on 3-point attempts in the first half.
Carroll picked up his second and third fouls in the first three minutes of the second half, but Missouri extended its lead from six points to 13 without him.
Carroll finished the game with 23 points, which was the third highest-scoring debut by a Tiger in school history. Carroll's point total tied the school record for points by a debuting post player, equaling the 23 recorded by Steve Stipanovich in his debute vs. Southwest Texas State in 1979.
Missouri plays Fordham, a 76-66 winner over Division II Central Missouri State, in the second round on Tuesday night, with the winner advancing to the tourney semifinals next Monday in Kansas City.
