Dec. 11, 2004
Box Score |
Notes
dlstr5120
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) - Linas Kleiza dominated the final eight minutes of the
first half and finished with a career-high 26 points to lead Missouri to an
87-62 win over Montana on Saturday.
Jimmy McKinney added 11 for the Tigers (5-4), while Kalen Grimes had a
career-high 12 points and four blocks in 14 minutes. Kamarr Davis had 12 points
and eight rebounds to lead Montana (3-4).
With Missouri ahead 14-10, Kleiza took over to rally the Tigers to a
16-point halftime lead. After missing his first four shots, Kleiza scored 16
points in the last eight minutes of the half. Missouri scored the final 10
points of the half and took a 37-21 lead into break.
In the second half, Kleiza picked up where he left off, opening the Tigers'
scoring with a 3-pointer. Missouri extended its lead to as many as 20 points
before the Grizzlies cut into the deficit with an 11-1 run that made it 50-40.
An alley-oop dunk by Jason Conley and a 3-pointer from Kleiza a minute later
returned the Tigers' lead to 17 points. Missouri extended its advantage to as
many as 27 points and Montana did not challenge the rest of the way.
Mimicking Missouri's early shooting struggles, Montana went 2-for-13 in the
first nine minutes, allowing the Tigers to jump out to an early 12-5 lead. Glen
Dandridge, who had played a total of two minutes in the Tigers' past four
games, scored five of Missouri's first 14 points and finished with seven.
After shooting 30 percent in a loss to Arkansas on Tuesday, Missouri was
significantly more effective against the Grizzlies, finishing 48 percent from
the field. Missouri's 87 points was a season high.
The Missouri defense limited Montana to 32 percent shooting in the first
half, well below the Grizzlies' average of 44 percent entering the game.
Montana finished at 38 percent for the game.
Missouri held Davis, Montana's leading scorer, to two points in the first
half.
