Dec. 2, 2000
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) - Kareem Rush had 19 points, scoring in double digits for the 23rd straight game, as Missouri beat Texas-Pan American 78-57 Saturday.
Rush hit only 6-for-16 from the field, but was 3-for-5 from 3-point range and hit all four of his free-throw attempts.
The Tigers (4-1) shot 83 percent from the free throw line, to improve on their 69.6 percent average coming in. Tajudeen Soyoye hit a career-best 9-of-9 free throws.
Soyoye added 15 points for Missouri, and Clarence Gilbert had 12 - all of them on 3-pointers. Freshman Arthur Johnson scored 10 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in his first career start.
Brian Merriweather scored 27 points for the Broncos (3-2) and John Braxton had nine.
The Tigers jumped out to an early 9-0 lead, hitting their first three shots while Texas-Pan American missed its first three. The Broncos got within 23-21 with eight minutes left in the first half.
Missouri led 42-31 at halftime.
The Tigers started the second half strong, going on an 8-0 run to increase their lead to 50-31.
Missouri held Texas Pan-American to 36 percent shooting.