Missouri turns back Colorado

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Missouri survived costly penalties and three missed field goals with a dominating second-half defense Saturday, beating Colorado 17-9 in the Big 12 opener for both teams.

The Tigers (3-1) beat Colorado (3-1) for the first time since 1998 and just the third time in 20 years.

Missouri controlled the ball for just under 35 minutes and frequently drove deep into Colorado territory. But kicker Joe Tantarelli missed field goals of 44, 42 and 39 yards. A 60-yard scoring pass late in the first half was called back when receiver Sean Coffey was called for offensive pass interference.

After not punting in the first half, Colorado's seven second-half possessions ended in five punts and two interceptions. Shirdonya Mitchell wrestled a would-be touchdown pass away from receiver Evan Judge in the Missouri end zone with 6:47 left.

Tigers quarterback Brad Smith completed 16-of-25 passes for 189 yards with one touchdown and ran 17 times for 76 yards.

Missouri never trailed, going 80 yards in 12 plays on the game's first drive. Smith carried three times for 35 yards on the drive, which ended with Damien Nash scoring from the 3. Nash had 25 carries for 102 yards.

Mason Crosby's 21-yard field goal in the first quarter cut the Missouri lead. Tantarelli kicked a career-long 45-yard field goal early in the second quarter to make it 10-3.

Colorado got within a point with 10:16 left in the first half on Bobby Purify's 4-yard run, but Missouri's James Kinney blocked the extra-point attempt.

The Tigers made it 17-9 early in the second quarter. On third-and-7 from the Missouri 49, Smith threw a short pass to Coffey, who slipped one tackle and deked two other defenders before diving into the end zone.

Smith's fumble at the Missouri 36 gave Colorado an opportunity with 10:23 to play, and the Buffaloes drove to the Missouri 8. But on second-and-goal, Judge appeared to briefly catch Joel Klatt's throw before Mitchell scrambled to take it away.

Purify, who entered the week 14th in the nation with a 118-yard rushing average, gained 81 yards on 22 carries despite missing most of the third quarter with an unspecified injury. He returned in the fourth quarter, but gained just six yards on eight second-half carries.

Klatt was 18-of-28 for 171 yards and three interceptions.