Bowers' second-half magic lifts Mizzou

PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas -- The second half is becoming Laurence Bowers' time to take over and that's just fine with No. 13 Missouri.

Bowers scored 19 points -- as usual most were in the second half -- and grabbed 10 rebounds as the Tigers beat Stanford 78-70 in the first round of the Battle 4 Atlantis on Thursday.

Bowers, who had 13 points in the second half Thursday, has scored more points after halftime in every game this season for the Tigers (4-0). He came in averaging 15.5 points per game, 14.0 in the second half.

"Second half is when you put the team away," Bowers said. "On an individual standpoint, I would love to play better in the first half, but whenever I get the opportunity to step up for my team, that is what I am going to do. And if that is in the second half, I am going to try and continue to do that."

Missouri will face the winner of the late game between No. 2 Louisville and Northern Iowa in today's semifinals.

Phil Pressey had 18 points and eight assists for Missouri, which finished with a 43-39 rebound advantage, including 19-12 on the offensive end.