National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Missouri 72, Appalachian St. 56
When: 3:00 PM ET, Saturday, December 1, 2012
Where: Mizzou Arena, Columbia, Missouri
Officials: # James Barker, # John Hampton, # Anthony Jordan
Attendance: 9388
By SportsDirect Inc.


No. 15 Missouri 72, Appalachian State 56: Laurence Bowers matched a career-high with 23 points and grabbed five rebounds and Earnest Ross added 13 points and nine boards to lead the Tigers to an easy win over the visiting Mountaineers.

The Tigers (6-1) also got 12 points, six rebounds and four assists from Keion Bell and 10 points from Tony Criswell as their bench combined for 26 points.

Bowers scored the first seven points of the game and 15 of Missouri's first 19 to push the Tigers to an early 23-9 lead.

Jay Canty scored a game-high 29 points and grabbed six rebounds to lead Appalachian State. Canty was 11-of-19 from the field, while the rest of the team was a combined 10-of-40.

The Mountaineers (1-6) have lost six straight since opening the season with a win over NAIA opponent Montreat. Appalachian State dropped to 2-23 against current members of the SEC.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Bowers' first basket came 25 seconds into the game, and Missouri was never tied or behind again. … Missouri improved to 33-1 under coach Frank Haith when leading at halftime. … Missouri SG Mike Dixon left the program Thursday, announcing he will transfer. Dixon had been suspended for the Tigers' first six games for violating team rules. Two separate accusations of sexual assault against him emerged in newspaper reports this week, though he was not charged in either case.

Top Game Performances
 
Appalachian St.   Missouri
Jay Canty 29 Scoring Laurence Bowers 23
Jamaal Trice 3 Assists Phil Pressey 7
Jay Canty 6 Rebounds Earnest Ross 9
Jay Canty 6 Free Throws Made Keion Bell 3
Jay Canty 3 Steals Phil Pressey 4
Nathan Healy 2 Blocks Laurence Bowers 1
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Appalachian St. 56 35.6 5-14 9-13 8 26 3 8 15
Missouri 72 49.2 6-19 8-14 18 41 2 10 17