No. 25 Missouri holds off Long Beach 69-59

Missouri's Jordan Clarkson, left, dribbles around Long Beach State's McKay LaSalle, right, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 4, 2014, in Columbia, Mo.
Missouri's Jordan Clarkson, left, dribbles around Long Beach State's McKay LaSalle, right, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 4, 2014, in Columbia, Mo.

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) - Jabari Brown scored 22 points to lead No. 25 Missouri to a 69-59 victory over pesky Long Beach State on Saturday.

Earnest Ross added 16 points and Ryan Rosburg had 11 rebounds for the Tigers (12-1), who open Southeastern Conference play at home against Georgia on Wednesday. Jordan Clarkson, who leads the SEC with a 20-point average, had a season-low 11 points.

Missouri has won 26 in a row at home, the longest current streak in the nation. It also has an 81-game winning streak against non-conference opponents since losing to Sam Houston State to start the 2005-06 season. Long Beach State (4-10) cut the deficit to two points with just under six minutes remaining but Missouri outscored the 49ers 12-4 the rest of the way.

Tyler Lamb had 17 points on 4-for-13 shooting for Long Beach State.

Dan Jennings, Long Beach State's leading rebounder, missed the last 16 minutes after a collision under the basket. Long Beach State had won three in a row since Lamb, a UCLA transfer, became eligible.

The Mizzou Arena was about half-filled, with attendance announced at 8,679 a day after the ninth-ranked football team beat Oklahoma State in the Cotton Bowl. The entertainment was a skeleton crew of five cheerleaders, an alumni band and no Golden Girls.

Wes Clark's 3-pointer gave Missouri its largest lead at 51-38 with 13:32 to play. Long Beach answered with a 10-2 run, five of the points from Lamb. Four straight points by Gulley cut the deficit to 57-55 with just over six minutes to go.

Missouri shot 58 percent in the first half and rallied from eight points down to take a 37-34 lead. Long Beach had an 18-13 rebounding advantage, plus the Tigers hurt themselves by missing six of their first 11 free throws.

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Highlights from this game