By Vahe Gregorian

COLUMBIA, Mo. — Less than 24 hours after a brutal football loss to Oklahoma in the Big 12 Conference title game on Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium, MU enjoyed an upbeat afternoon Sunday at Mizzou Arena, where the men’s basketball team stomped California 93-66.
The Tigers used an 18-0 first-half run to put the game away early and improve to 7-1 against a Bears team that entered the game 6-1 with victories over DePaul and UNLV. It was MU’s second victory of the season over a Pacific 10 team, having earlier beaten USC 83-72, and MU’s fifth win in a row.
More significantly, the victory extended several promising signs of the program’s growth in Mike Anderson’s third season.
The team was led by the continuing steady play from forwards DeMarre Carroll (19 points) and Leo Lyons (18), a career-high 16 points on four 3-pointers by freshman Kim English in 14 minutes of play and cohesiveness and energy that often had been lacking the last few years.
“Started on defense, though – defense,” English said playfully.
Said Carroll: “My opinion – I think we’re the most unselfish team (in the country).” He added, “It’s a whole new team, a whole new era.”
Mizzou, for instance, had 22 assists, with seven coming from J.T. Tiller. It was the fifth time in eight games MU has had 20 or more. Four players were in double figures with freshman Marcus Denmon adding 14, and Keith Ramsey blocked three shots in the first half.
Freshman Miguel Paul earned Anderson’s applause after the game for skittering across the floor for a loose ball late in the game, and the selfless play was contagious all the way down the bench. In the lane late with a chance at just his third career basket, freshman center Steve Moore opted to flip an alley-oop to Laurence Bowers.
“He should be on the receiving end of that,” Anderson said.
MU still has a long way to go to make its first NCAA Tournament since 2003. But with more depth and versatility and sheer dynamism than in the recent past, it should be an intriguing team to follow this season.