No. 15 Missouri 74, Nicholls State 54: Alex Oriakhi scored 17 points and Earnest Ross added 16 as the host Tigers stayed perfect with a win over the Colonels.

Oriakhi also grabbed 10 rebounds to become the first Missouri player to have three straight double-digit efforts on the boards to start a season since 1983-84. Keion Bell chipped in 13 points, seven rebounds and four steals for the Tigers (3-0), who improved to 68-0 against non-conference opponents at home since the end of the 2005-06 season.

Fred Hunter led all scorers with 22 points for Nicholls State (0-2). T.J. Carpenter added 14, nine of which came in a span of less than two minutes of the second half.

The Tigers took a 32-25 lead into the break and started fast in the second half. Bell had a 3-pointer, a three-point play and a pair of free throws during a 13-3 burst that gave Missouri a 21-point lead with 14:42 to play.

Carpenter had his surge midway through the second half to help pull the Colonels within 14 points. Nicholls State never got any closer down the stretch.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Hunter is averaging 21.5 points in his first two games after missing all of last season because of an ACL injury. ... The Tigers had a 38-22 advantage on the glass. ... Missouri plays three games in three days from Nov. 22-24 in the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament in the Bahamas.