Columbia, Mo. — After a long silence, Missouri's offense got revved up.
Linas Kleiza had 19 points and 14 rebounds, and the Tigers outscored Houston 20-1 during a 61/2-minute span that began near the end of the first half of a 77-61 victory over Houston in the second round of the Guardians Classic on Tuesday night.
"We can score in bunches," coach Quin Snyder said. "We are capable of going on runs."
He'll tolerate the dry spells, too, because it's been only two games, and Missouri is rebuilding after losing three starters.
"It's like a poll of two people, you don't know right now," Snyder said. "I think we've got guys that can only get better with playing experience and we can only get better as a team."
Missouri (2-0) made only one basket in more than 11 minutes and fell behind by five points earlier in the first half. The Tigers had little trouble scoring the rest of the game, shooting 50 percent and going 12-for-23 from three-point range.
Missouri hit only three of its first 18 from long range in the opening round against Brown.
"Give Missouri credit, they came out to play and they played very well," Houston coach Tom Penders said. "They didn't take us lightly. Obviously, that wasn't the same team that played Brown."
Thomas Gardner scored all but three of his 18 points in the second half for the Tigers, who advanced to the semifinals on Tuesday in Kansas City. Jimmy McKinney had 16 points and Jason Conley 14, and Kleiza added five assists.
Missouri's Jason Conley celebrates after he hit a three-pointer at the halftime buzzer against Houston. The Tigers beat the Cougars, 77-61, in the Guardians Classic on Tuesday in Columbia, Mo.
"I want them to face good, stiff competition," said Penders, a former coach at Texas. "I don't believe in playing creampuffs and fattening up on that stuff."
Andre Owens had 16 points and Lanny Smith 14 for Houston (1-1), which last faced Missouri in 1982. Houston rallied from a 10-point second half deficit in the first round against Sam Houston State for its first season-opening victory since 1999, but never threatened a repeat comeback.
No. 10 Arizona 80,
San Diego 69
Tucson, Ariz. -- Mustafa Shakur scored 23 points, and Ivan Radenovic added 20 in Arizona's often-sloppy victory in the first round of the Preseason NIT.
Salim Stoudamire also scored 20 for the Wildcats, who won their 13th straight Preseason NIT game and are 13-1 overall in the event. Arizona won the tournament in its last three appearances -- 1990, 1995, 1999.
Brice Voynang matched his career best with 28 points and had 11 rebounds for the Toreros.
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