Jason Crowe Jr. set a Missouri freshman record with 34 points on 11-of-16 shooting in a 96-58 victory against SIU Edwardsville on Monday in Columbia, Mo.
Crowe made 4 of 8 3-point attempts and 8 of 9 free throws, adding four assists and two turnovers in 32 minutes. Crowe surpassed Derrick Chievous’ freshman mark of 32 points set in 1984 against Arizona.
Toni Bryant, another top freshman, added 18 points and seven rebounds for Missouri, which played most of the way without Mark Mitchell because of an injury sustained in the first minute.
Mitchell, the Tigers’ assist leader and second-leading scorer coming in, was knocked in the face and had a bloody nose. He didn’t return to action.
Jamier Jones added 10 points and Kennard Davis Jr. had nine for Mizzou (2-1), which bounced back from a six-point loss against Saint Louis on a neutral court Friday night.
Missouri’s Bryson Tiller, a Kansas transfer, posted 11 points and seven rebounds. Trent Pierce logged six points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals.
Crowe struggled from the field on Friday against the Billikens, shooting 3-for-18. Against SIUE, Crowe drained his first shot from deep and had 22 points at halftime, pacing Mizzou to a 48-24 lead.
Dehrio McCaskill led SIUE (2-2) with 11 points, and David Wilson added nine. The Cougars missed all eight of their 3-point attempts in the first half and finished 3 of 18 from beyond the arc.
SIUE’s victories came against Eureka and Concordia Chicago, Division III teams.
Mizzou shot 58.5% from the field, including 12 of 23 (52.2%) from 3-point range. The Tigers also made 22 of 27 free throws while the Cougars were 9 of 14. Missouri wound up with a 20-6 edge in points off turnovers.