The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE new look Missouri Tigers tipped off the Battle 4 Atlantis with a win, relying heavily on what it lacked last year in their rise to national prominence – a dominant post presence.

Laurence Bowers and Alex Oriakhi combined to score six of the Tigers’ final eight points down the stretch to close out the Stanford Cardinal in the tournament’s opening game, 78-70, and advance to the semifinals tomorrow night.

Bowers finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds, while Oriakhi added 13 points to lead Missouri to the win and a 36-16 advantage in the paint. Earnest Ross finished with a double double – 10 points and 11 rebounds.

On the heels of a late Stanford run and leading by just two, Bowers nailed a baseline jumper to give the Tigers a two possession game 70-66 with just under two minutes left to play. Oriakhi followed with a tip in for a 72-66 lead before Phil Pressey closed out the Cardinal at the free throw line.

“We had some guys make some big plays. Our bigs were key down the stretch. We’re a much different looking team than last year,” Tigers’ head coach Frank Haith said. “We’ve got to be on the boards, rebounding, defense, that’s a big part of who this team is right now and I thought we did that much better in the second half.”

Pressey, the only returning starter from last year’s team which ended the season third in the AP Poll and 11th in the Coaches poll, finished with 18 points, eight assists, five rebounds and four steals.

Pressey said the team expects Bowers to continue as a major factor in the offense.

“He’s [Bowers] a senior. He’s been here before, he knows what it takes down the stretch and he works on those shots everyday so I’m not surprised,” he said.

The Tigers shot 88 per cent from the free throw line, with Oriakhi 7-8 and Pressey perfect at 6-6.

“When you have your big men that can make free throws, that’s key,” Pressey said, “Overall that just helps you out with execution down the stretch.”

Bowers missed the 2011-12 season after suffering a torn ACL last October.

“I’m definitely getting better day by day. Taking hard hits, anytime I’m on the ground that just builds my confidence in my knee. I just have to get better, its progression, day by day,” Bowers said.

“Whenever I get an opportunity to step up for my team, whether it’s in the first half or the second half, I’ll continue to do that.”

Missouri outscored Stanford 25-11 in points off turnovers and 25-7 on second chance points.

Chasson Randle led the Cardinal with 22 points, Dwight Powell finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds and John Gage finished with 10 points off the bench.

The Tigers will play the winners of last night’s Louisville vs. Northern Iowa game in the semifinals.

Results were unavailable up to press time last night.

Game Notes: The Imperial Arena reported an attendance of 3,217 for the opening game which featured six ties and four lead changes. One of the top teams on the perimeter last season, the Tigers went without a three point field goal until the 1:10 mark in the first half. Missouri senior guard Michael Dixon Jr travelled with the team to the Battle 4 Atlantis but remains on suspension and is not in the lineup.