COLUMBIA, Mo. - Mizzou Men's Basketball won its second-straight game to open the season Monday night at Mizzou Arena, as head coach Cuonzo Martin's Tigers beat Wagner, 99-55. Mizzou was explosive on offense, shooting 68 percent from the field and 55 percent from beyond the three-point line.

Senior guard Kassius Robertson (Toronto, Ontario) led the Tigers on the offensive end of the floor, scoring 23 points while shooting 7-of-10 from the field and 5-of-8 from deep. Mizzou also played with great defensive intensity throughout the game, as the Tigers forced 19 turnovers and held Wagner to 33 percent shooting from the field.

Turning Point

Mizzou came out with purpose right from the opening tip, as the Tigers put together a 13-0 run early in the first half to grab a 16-point lead. During the stretch, the Black & Gold were excellent defensively, holding the Seahawks scoreless for over five minutes, while also forcing four turnovers.

The run on offense was multi-faceted, as four different Tigers were able to get in on the act. The run started with hustle, as freshman forward Jeremiah Tilmon (East St. Louis, Ill.) got the second of two put-back attempts to go down. Robertson flashed his smooth jumper on the next two possessions, hitting a two-pointer and a wide-open three on back-to-back sequences. Freshman forward Jontay Porter (Columbia, Mo.) was able to get his game going on the following possession, getting to work in the post and hitting a turnaround jumper from the free throw line.

The run was capped by junior forward Kevin Puryear (Blue Springs, Mo.), who used a spin-move along the baseline to drop in a layup while getting fouled. He would miss the free throw, but by then, Mizzou's lead was 19-3. The Tigers never let Wagner get within 14 points after the early first half blitz.

Top Tigers

Robertson, who scored 20 points nine times in 2016-17 at Canisius College, poured in 23 points in 29 minutes of action, the most of any Tiger. The graduate transfer sank five shots from beyond the arc, a feat that only happened seven times last season.

Jontay Porter flashed his all-around game against the Seahawks, nearly recording a double-double in what was just his second collegiate game. He had 11 points, eight rebounds and four assists, while working on the perimeter and in the post to produce his stat line. Porter was also active defensively, snatching a team-best two steals.

Sophomore forward Reed Nikko (Maple Grove, Minn.) played well defensively, grabbing eight rebounds, snagging one steal, and blocking a career-high three shots. Nikko was also 5-of-6 at the free throw line, getting all but three of his points from the stripe.  

Junior Kevin Puryear (Blue Springs, Mo.) remained hot from the field, finishing the game a perfect 4-of-4 shooting the ball. Puryear finished the game with 12 points, his 42^nd career game in double digits, while also grabbing five rebounds and one steal.  

Up Next

Next, Mizzou will head out on the road for the first time this season, where the Tigers will face a tough test at Utah on Thursday. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. (CT) and will be broadcast on the Pac-12 Networks.