COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) -- Kim English scored 23 points and Marcus Denmon tied a career-high with 17 points as Missouri relied on a barrage of 3-pointers to beat Austin Peay 94-79 on Sunday. The Tigers (9-3) connected on 10 of 19 shots from beyond the arc, including eight in the first half. They broke open a close game with an 18-3 run over the final five minutes of the first half, scored the first seven points of the second half and led by as many as 27 points. Denmon shot 4 for 6 on 3-pointers, with English making half of his six attempts. Both reached double figures in scoring in the first half. Wes Channels led Austin Peay (8-6) with 23 points. Anthony Campbell added 15 points and seven rebounds while John Fraley scored 10 points with nine rebounds for the Governors of the Ohio Valley Conference. Missouri started out sluggish in its return to the court after defeating rival Illinois four days earlier for the first time in a decade. The game was tied eight times and the lead changed 11 times before the Tigers pulled away. Austin Peay scored 14 points inside in the first half, many on layups, with an undersized front court and no starter taller than 6-foot-8. Ten players scored for Missouri, with freshman guard Michael Dixon adding 12 points and four assists, J.T. Tiller nine points and Laurence Bowers eight points. Senior Zaire Taylor, who continues to recover from a flu-like illness, added six points and three rebounds off the bench. Missouri Coach Mike Anderson said after the game he still considers Taylor a starter. The game was the first of four straight nonconference home contests for Missouri before the start of Big 12 play against Kansas State at Mizzou Arena on Jan. 9. (Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
