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Bowers continues 2nd-half spree

— The second half is becoming Laurence Bowers’ time to take over and that’s just fine with No. 13 Missouri.

Bowers scored 19 points, including 13 in the second half, and grabbed 10 rebounds as the Tigers beat Stanford 78-70 in the first round of the Battle 4 Atlantis on Thursday.

Bowers has scored more points after halftime in every game this season for the Tigers (4-0). He came in averaging 15.5 points per game, 14.0 in the second half.

“Second half is when you put the team away,” Bowers said. “On an individual standpoint, I would love to play better in the first half, but whenever I get the opportunity to step up for my team, that is what I am going to do. And if that is in the second half, I am going to try and continue to do that.”

Phil Pressey had 18 points and eight assists for Missouri, which had just three field goals over the final 9:10 and they were all grouped in a 1:57 span starting with 2:12 to play. It didn’t matter as the Tigers were 10 of 11 from the free throw line over that span. They were 22 for 25 for the game.

“When you have your big men make free throws, that is key,” said Pressey, who made all six of his free throws.

“When Alex [Oriakhi] makes his free throws and your guards, that is a given - they have to make their free throws, overall that just helps you out.”

Bowers missed last season with a torn knee ligament.

“I am definitely getting better day by day, both physically and mentally,” Bowers said. “Taking hard hits or anytime I end up on the ground that just builds my confidence that much more on my knee.

“I am very comfortable with Phil Pressey on the floor and think our chemistry is coming along greatly and with the other guys as well. I just have to get better with progression day by day.”

Chasson Randle had 22 points for the Cardinal (3-2).

Oriakhi had 13 points for Missouri. Earnest Ross had 10 points and 11 rebounds for the Tigers.

NO. 5 DUKE 89, MINNESOTA 71

PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas - Seth Curry scored 25 points and Mason Plumlee added 20 points and a career-high matching 17 rebounds as No. 5 Duke’s starters scored all but two of the Blue Devils’ points in the first round of the Battle 4 Atlantis.

Plumlee was coming off a career-high 28 points on 9-for-11 shooting from the field, 10 of 11 from the free throw line and had nine rebounds in the Blue Devils’ previous game, an 88-67 victory over Florida Gulf Coast.

Sophomore point guard Quinn Cook had a career-high 17 points for the Blue Devils (4-0) who extended their regular-season tournament winning streak to 21 games, a run that stretches to the championship game of the 2006 CBE Classic.

Rodney Williams had 16 points for the Golden Gophers (4-1).

NO. 17 GONZAGA 57, CLEMSON 49

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Elias Harris and Kelly Olynyk each scored 13 points too help No. 17 Gonzaga beat Clemson in a first round game at the Old Spice Classic.

Sam Dower had 11 points for Gonzaga (4-0).

Clemson (2-1) got 10 points from Adonis Filer. Milton Jennings had six points and eight rebounds.

VCU 78, NO. 19 MEMPHIS 65

Treveon Graham scored 26 points and Rob Brandenberg added 15, including two late 3-pointers, and VCU beat No. 19 Memphis in the first round of the Battle 4 Atlantis.

The Rams used their frenetic style of play to take a 16-point lead in the first half only to see the Tigers pull to 63-61 with 4:05 to play. VCU (3-1) then went on an 11-0 run with all the points scored by Graham and Brandenberg.

SEC MEN DAVIDSON 75, VANDERBILT 62

LAKE BUENE VISTA, Fla. - De’Mon Brooks scored 19 points and Davidson beat Vanderbilt in the first round of the Old Spice Classic.

Nik Cochran and Jake Cohen added 14 points each for Davidson (2-2).

Kedren Johnson had a career-high 28 points for Vanderbilt (1-2). The Commodores, coming off a 78-48 loss to Oregon, also got 14 points from Kyle Fuller.

Baskets by Brooks and Chris Czerapowicz put Davidson ahead 57-52. The Wildcats, keyed by Clint Mann’s dunk and a three by Cochran, scored the next nine points and increased their lead to 66-52 with six minutes remaining.

Sports, Pages 29 on 11/23/2012

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