Jan. 4, 2005

Box Score |  Notes

By R.B. FALLSTROM
AP Sports Writer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) - Jason Conley had 12 points and 10 rebounds for his second straight double-double, and the second of his career, helping Missouri beat American 64-51 on Tuesday night.

Thomas Gardner added 14 points and Jason Horton scored all but two of his career-best 12 points in the first half to get the Tigers (8-5) off to a good start in their final game before beginning Big 12 play. Missouri opens at home on Saturday against Iowa State.

The Tigers won despite a sub-par outing from leading scorer Linas Kleiza, who missed all six of his shots from the field and was held to five free throws. Kleiza had averaged 20 points over the previous four games.

Conley's follow-up to a 16-point, 13-rebound effort against Gonzaga, plus a defense that held American to 35 percent shooting, helped compensate.

Missouri, which was 10-of-22 (46 percent) from 3-point range and 18-for-53 (34 percent) otherwise, has won four in a row at the new Mizzou Arena.

Andre Ingram had 19 points for American (6-5), which has lost three of four and opens Patriot League play on Saturday at home against Lehigh. Jason Thomas added 12 points and Linas Lekavicius had 11.

Missouri led by as many as 16 points in the second half, although American twice shaved the deficit to six. The Tigers went more than five minutes between baskets to allow the Eagles back into the game.

Missouri shot only 37 percent in the first half but was 7-for-11 from 3-point range to take a 33-21 lead at halftime. Four of the 3-pointers came in the final 2:44 on a half-ending 16-2 run that erased American's 19-17 lead.

The Tigers were only 3-for-16 inside the 3-point line in the first half.

Two players, Ingram with 13 points and Thomas with six, scored all but two of American's first-half points.