Tigers knock out California Bears

Missouri didn't fall behind at any point in the game.

By Ross Taylor

Published Dec. 7, 2008

Like a boxer with a devastating jab-hook combination, Missouri coach Mike Anderson seems to have found comfort in a combination of his own that has begun to pack a punch.

In nearly every game this season, the Missouri men’s basketball team has attempted to establish its presence inside before turning to young shooters off the bench to provide some perimeter threat.

Missouri worked that two-pronged punch to perfection early against the California Golden Bears on Sunday, opening up a lead that once stretched as large as 24 points with six minutes to play in the first half. Missouri beat Cal 93-66 and did not trail at any point in the game.

“They outplayed us, they out-hustled us, they out-rebounded us,” Cal junior guard Jerome Randle said.

The Tigers put together a complete 40 minutes of high pressure, high speed basketball that earned Anderson’s praise after the game.

“Our guys showed up to play. They played an excellent game from start to finish,” Anderson said. “There was an energy in the building.”

Missouri (7-1) came out flying early, running the offense through senior forwards DeMarre Carroll and Leo Lyons. The duo sparked Missouri early on a series of baseline fadeaways and tough inside layups, scoring 18 of Missouri’s first 20 points.

As soon as Cal began to counter the big men, Mike Anderson turned to his bench, primarily the shooting hand of freshman guard Marcus Denmon. In the first half, Denmon turned in 10 points in 11 minutes of playing time.

The second half belonged to Kim English, who at one point in the half hit a 3-pointer on three consecutive Missouri possessions. English, who finished with 16 points, fouled out with four minutes left in the game, earning a standing ovation from the Mizzou Arena crowd on his way back to the bench.

“My teammates had seen I was hot so they just kept on finding me and the shots were falling,” English said.

Lost in the scoring spree, however, was the defensive play of Missouri throughout the game. Randle, who entered Sunday averaging 21 points per game, was held to 15 points, partially as a result of the defense of junior guard Zaire Taylor.

“Zaire did a great job on Randle,” Anderson said. “He was a big key in this game.”

For a team that feeds off energy, a small but active Mizzou Arena crowd of 8,310 certainly did its part to charge up the home team.

“Coach said, ‘If you want to get the fans here, they’re coming tonight, so you’ve got to keep them here,’” Carroll said.

The win was so thorough that the crowd was able to continue a blowout tradition — calling for playing time for walk-on Jarrett Sutton.