TAMPA, Fla. — Kobe Brown scored 12 of his 16 points in the second half when 12th-seeded Missouri pulled away from 13th-seeded Mississippi for a 72-60 win in the Southeastern Conference tournament opener.
Ronnie DeGray III had three 3-pointers and 14 points, all in the first half, to help the Tigers keep pace.
Missouri will take on fifth-seeded LSU in Thursday's second round.
Matthew Murrell scored 16 points and Jarkel Joiner had 13 for the Rebels, who lost their fifth straight.
