COLUMBIA, Mo. — Sean East II scored 21 points and Missouri breezed to a 101-79 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff in a season opener on Monday night.
East sank 7 of 8 shots with two 3-pointers and was 5-for-5 at the free-throw line for the Tigers. Nick Honor and reserve Tamar Bates both scored 18.
Bates — a transfer from Indiana, who was a two-time all-state player for Piper High School in Kansas City, Kansas — made 7 of 9 shots, including all three of his 3-pointers.
Caleb Grill and Noah Carter added 15 points apiece. Grill had seven rebounds.
It was a two-man show for the Golden Lions. Kylen Milton scored 34 points, sinking 8 of 10 shots — with three 3s — and 15 of 20 foul shots. Joe French scored 30, but he made just 10 of 27 shots, including 4 of 14 from distance.
Missouri is coming off a 25-10 record in its first season under coach Dennis Gates. The Tigers went 11-7 in the Southeastern Conference, finishing fourth, and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
The Tigers are 6-0 all-time against the Golden Lions with all six games played in Missouri. The teams last played in 2015 when Missouri posted a 78-25 victory. It's the fewest points allowed by the Tigers since 1947.
UAPB went 10-21 last season and finished ninth in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.
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