James Douglas and the Tigers will next face Missouri Southern in exhibition play on Nov. 8.James Douglas and the Tigers will next face Missouri Southern in exhibition play on Nov. 8.
Men's Basketball

Missouri Crushes Bemidji St., 105-56, in Exhibition Opener

Nov. 2, 2005

Box Score |  Notes |  Photo Gallery

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) - Thomas Gardner scored 22 points and Missouri shot 64 percent to beat Bemidji State 105-56 in its exhibition opener on Wednesday night.

Marshall Brown added 14 points for the Tigers, coming off a 16-17 season and regrouping after losing leading scorer and rebounder Linas Kleiza to the NBA's Denver Nuggets. Jimmy McKinney and reserve Marcus Watkins had 13 points apiece.

The Tigers also held NCAA Division II Bemidji State to 29 percent shooting.

Missouri has one more exhibition, Nov. 8 against Missouri Southern, before beginning the regular season.

Gardner is the Tigers' top returning scorer with a 10.4 average. He finished one point off his regular-season career best, against UNLV and Kansas last season, while going 8-for-14 overall and 2-for-4 from 3-point range.

Five players scored in double figures for Missouri, with Jason Horton adding 11 points and freshman Leo Lyons getting 10.

Missouri had a slow start against Bemidji State, which led 11-6 early. The Tigers got rolling after the first 4 minutes, using runs of 11-0 and 11-2 for a 57-33 halftime lead.

Missouri also outrebounded Bemidji State 39-38 after the visitors had an edge early.

Missouri sophomore forward Glen Dandridge did not dress after violating academic policy, a school spokesman said.

Alvin Muse had 11 points and Duane Fields 10 for Bemidji State.