update with quotes: Foot Injury Takes Tiller Out of Second Half of MU Opener

COLUMBIA | Missouri won its regular season basketball opener 83-68 over Tennessee-Martin. But Tigers senior guard J.T. Tiller — a candidate for the national Wooden Award — suffered a sprained left foot early in the second half and did not return.

“It’s considered a sprain right now,” MU coach Anderson said, following X-rays that reportedly showed no other damage. “We’ll know more tomorrow.”

Also injured in the first half was another starting guard, Kimmie English, who appeared to hit the back of his head on the floor during a scramble for a ball. English came back to play in the second half. But he hit only one of nine shots and on back-to-back possessions lost control of loose ball rebounds.

“I talked to him at the halftime,” teammate Marcus Denmon said of English. “He was kind of like indecisive on things. He’ll get checked out and he’ll be good hopefully.”

Justin Safford, a starting forward, came out after the game limping and with his left shoe in his hands.

Tiller’s injury appeared, potentially at least, to be one that could lead to missed time on the court. That was a subject Anderson refused to speculate upon.

“He’s doing fine,” Denmon said. “It wasn’t anything major. I’m sure he’ll get back.”

In an indication that nothing was certain, MU officials at first indicated that Tiller’s injury was to his left foot, then said it was his right foot. A member of the training staff later confirmed it was Tiller’s left foot.

Tiller’s injury occurred with 17:28 left in the second half when Tiller was fouled by Dominique Mpondo of Tennessee-Martin. Tiller was in the act of shooting, and fell backward and stayed down for a few minutes before limping off the floor with the help of a trainer.

Missouri does not play again until Sunday, in a 1 p.m. game at Mizzou Arena against UT-Pan American.

Anderson admitted that an injury that kept Tiller off the floor would definitely hurt.

“It was very evident when he wasn’t out on the floor,” Anderson said of a game in which Missouri committed 21 turnovers while forcing Tennessee-Martin, 0-2, into 23.

Missouri’s big men, meanwhile, led the way.

Sophomore Laurence Bowers opened with a 14-point first half in which he hit five of six shots from the field and four of four from the free throw line with three blocked shots. Bowers finished with 16 points, eight rebounds and four of Missouri’s eight blocked shots.

Senior Keith Ramsey scored 15 points, grabbed seven rebounds and turned in the most dramatic of block of the game, hammering the ball into the stands.

Steve Moore, another sophomore reserve, scored eight points, and Safford added five with a couple of nice first-half assists for Bowers’ buckets.

“A guy like Steve Moore gives some great minutes,” Anderson said. “Mike Dixon came in and gave us a spark off the bench. And, of course, Laurence Bowers continues to be the guy that has been really doing well.”

Denmon led the guard scoring with 10 points, although he hit only four of 11 shots.