Tigers cruise past Fordham in Classic

~ Missouri won its four-team regional with a 79-55 victory.

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Missouri played the first half against Fordham on Tuesday like Mike Anderson's up-tempo style is supposed to be played.

That's why the sluggish second half that followed wasn't a problem for Missouri in a 79-55 win over the Rams in the CBE Classic's Columbia Regional.

"That's Missouri basketball," Carroll said of the first half. "That's how [Anderson] wants us to play. If we can just carry that over to the second half, we're going to be a dangerous team."

Missouri (2-0) shot 61 percent in the first half and held the Rams (1-1) to 25 percent shooting while it built a 53-23 halftime lead. The Tigers also committed just three turnovers and had 15 assists in the first half.

Missouri's J.T. Tiller shot over Fordham's Herb Tanner during the second half Tuesday during the regional final of the CBE Classic in Columbia, Mo. L.G. PATTERSONAssociated Press

"If I could ball that up I'd be a rich, rich man," Anderson said.

Two quick baskets in the second half pushed the lead to 34 points before Missouri went into a 1-for-15 slump over the next 10 minutes. Anderson said he thinks the letdown was caused by the big halftime lead.

"Coach told us to come out fired up for the first five minutes," Keon Lawrence said. "But we figured the game was over, and we can't do that."

Missouri's solid defensive play kept Fordham from ever getting close. The Tigers forced 21 turnovers and held the Rams to just 30 percent shooting.

Bryant Dunston and Marcus Stout led Fordham with 13 points apiece, and Dunston added nine rebounds.

Central Michigan's Jon Yeazel, center, has the ball knocked away by Missouri's Matt Lawrence, right, during the first half of a college basketball game in the first round CBE Classic Monday, Nov. 12, 2007, in Columbia, Mo. Missouri won the game 87-76.(AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)

Carroll finished with a game-high 16 points and eight rebounds. J.T. Tiller scored 13 points and Stefhon Hannah had 12 points and six assists for the Tigers.