Austin Peay no match for Tigers

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Missouri quickly showed it wouldn't become the latest big team to lose to Austin Peay.

Rickey Paulding had 14 points and nine rebounds and guard Jimmy McKinney made an impressive return from an injury as the 18th-ranked Tigers won 81-46 Saturday.

Arthur Johnson had 16 points and three steals, and Ricky Clemons had nine points and eight assists for Missouri (2-0).

"As hard as we've worked, there ain't no point in us going out there and not putting forth this effort," Johnson said. "The last time we stepped on the court, we didn't put forth that effort the whole game."

McKinney, the team's top recruit, returned wearing a protective mask after missing nearly a month with a broken bone above his right eye. He had eight points in 14 minutes.

"I don't have my rhythm back yet, but other than that it feels good to be out there," McKinney said. "That's all that matters."

McKinney flashed some impressive moves, including a behind-the-head flip on the run under the basket that failed to make connections with a startled Johnson. McKinney also had a 3-pointer from about 3 feet beyond the line.

"Jimmy doesn't seem to be taking it easy," coach Quin Snyder said. "He loves playing so much, it just comes out. I don't think he's ever been hurt before and he clearly missed it."

Austin Peay (2-1) upset Memphis 81-80 in overtime in its opener Nov. 22, but was blown out by Missouri. A 13-2 run made it 26-15 with 7:45 to go in the first half, and Missouri finished the half on a 13-0 run for a 42-20 lead as Austin Peay went scoreless the final 5:51.

The Governors committed turnovers on eight consecutive possessions during that dry spell.

"When a guy gets in your face, you have to concentrate," Austin Peay guard Corey Gipson said. "You can't let the pressure get to you when they're right on you, but we did, and that hurt us the most."

The Tigers took their biggest lead at 60-29.

"It was all about their defense, which was great," Austin Peay coach Dave Loos said. "I was very impressed with them."

Missouri shot 48 percent, including 9-for-21 from 3-point range with six players connecting.

Gipson had 15 points, going 4-for-10 from 3-point range, for Austin Peay. Gipson vomited on the court while dribbling in the front court in the first half but played on.

"No nerves," Gipson said. He added, jokingly, "Maybe because of Thanksgiving."

It shocked Clemons, who was guarding him.

"We had to stop the play," Clemons said. "They tried to keep playing, but I had to stop."

Clemons controlled Gipson after he connected on his first three 3-pointers.

"His line doesn't give an indication of what he did," Snyder said. "He took on the toughest job defensively."

Josh Lewis added 12 points on 5-for-5 shooting, including two dunks, for the Governors.

Austin Peay, which averaged 15.5 turnovers in its first two games, had 16 in the first half and was held to 36.4 percent shooting. The Governors had 20 3-pointers and shot 44 percent from long range during their first two games, but were 6-for-22 against Missouri.

"We were aware of them," Clemons said. "We wanted to pound on them."