MUTIGERS
Missouri Pounds Louisiana-Monroe 73-44

MUTIGERS.COM Missouri's Thomas Gardner (3) shoots over Louisiana-Monroe players Monday, Jan. 2, 2006, during the second half of their basketball game in Columbia, Mo. Gardner led all scorers with 18 points in Missouri's 73-44 victory. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
MUTIGERS.COM
Missouri's Thomas Gardner (3) shoots over Louisiana-Monroe players Monday, Jan. 2, 2006, during the second half of their basketball game in Columbia, Mo. Gardner led all scorers with 18 points in Missouri's 73-44 victory. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
MUTIGERS.COM

Jan. 2, 2006

Box Score |  Notes

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) - Thomas Gardner scored 18 points Monday night as Missouri took control early and cruised to a 73-44 win over Louisiana-Monroe.

The Tigers (7-4) scored 22 points off turnovers in the first half and closed with an 18-0 run to go into the locker room at halftime with a 36-13 lead. A 21-0 run in the second half put the game out of reach for Missouri.

Kevin Young had 12 points and 13 rebounds for the Tigers, while Leo Lyons scored a career-high 12 points and Marshall Brown added 10.

Louisiana-Monroe (4-8), which played its first game in 13 days, came out rusty, committing 16 turnovers and shooting 26 percent in the first half.

Lance Brasher led the Indians with 12 points, and Tony Hooper had 10.

Missouri, which extended its home winning streak to seven games, opens its Big 12 schedule on Saturday at home against Oklahoma State.