December 30, 1998
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) - John Woods scored Missouri's first eight points on his way to a game-high 20, leading the Tigers to a 77-48 victory over Centenary on Wednesday night.
Woods hit four of his six 3-point attempts for Missouri, which sank a season-high 10 3-pointers. Albert White added 12 points, including three slam dunks, for the Tigers (9-2), who open conference play Saturday at home against Nebraska.
Ronnie McCollum led Centenary (4-6) with 15 points and seven rebounds. The Tigers, who led 33-22 at halftime, put the game out of reach in the first five minutes of the second half. Missouri woke up from its first half doldrums to score on six of its first eight possessions during a 14-1 run.
Pat Schumaker opened the second-half scoring with a putback; Brian Grawer's steal led to a 3-pointer from Woods and Johnnie Parker followed with a 3-pointer.
Keyon Dooling took his turn next, rolling in a layup, then driving to the bucket for his trademark tomahawk slam dunk. Parker capped the run with a turnaround jumper with 15:35 to play, and Missouri led 47-23.
Centenary's first second-half field goal came at the 14:38 mark, when McCollum sank a 3-pointer. The Gentlemen could get no closer than a 16-point deficit at 54-38 with 10:00 left.
Missouri responded with nine unanswered points to retain control.
Centenary never led in the game and tied Missouri only once, at 3-3. Woods gave the Tigers the lead for good with a 3-pointer. He followed that with a steal, which he took the full court for a layup and an 8-3 edge.
Turnovers proved to be a problem throughout the game for Centenary, which gave the ball away 20 times, including 14 in the first half.
Missouri's biggest lead in the first half came at 29-15 when Woods, who scored 17 of his points in the first half, made a 3-pointer with 2:21 to play in the half.
Centenary answered with its best sequence of offensive possessions in the first half. Tim Law sank a running jumper, Thomas Foster hit a 3-pointer, and Ed Dotson dropped in a 15-footer as the Gents cut Missouri's lead to 33-22.
The game was only the second meeting between the two teams, with Missouri winning the first meeting 97-64 on Dec. 14, 1986.