Missouri routs Northwestern State

Denmon scores 31 points

Northwestern State's Demetrice Jacobs, left, and teammate Shamir Davis (0) fight off Missouri's Phil Pressey, center, and Marcus Denmon, right, for a loose ball during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game on Friday, Dec. 2, 2011, in Columbia. Mo. Missouri won the game 90-56.
Northwestern State's Demetrice Jacobs, left, and teammate Shamir Davis (0) fight off Missouri's Phil Pressey, center, and Marcus Denmon, right, for a loose ball during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game on Friday, Dec. 2, 2011, in Columbia. Mo. Missouri won the game 90-56.

COLUMBIA, Mo. - Marcus Denmon scored a career-high 31 points and No. 13 Missouri went on a pair of big runs Friday night in a 90-56 rout of Northwestern State.

Michael Dixon also set a career high with 19 points and Ricardo Ratliffe matched his personal best with 22. The Tigers (7-0) are off to their best start since winning their first nine games during the 2006-07 season.

Missouri used runs of 18-0 and 24-8 to take control. Denmon became the first Tigers player to score 30 points in a game since 2009.

Missouri coach Frank Haith said Wednesday his team planned to attack Northwestern State forward William Mosley, who led the nation last season with 154 blocks and was third this season with 26 through seven games. Despite starting four guards, the Tigers did just that, outscoring the Demons 50-22 in the paint and outrebounding Northwestern State 40-31.

Game video:

http://www.mutigers.com/allaccess/?media=286813