TAMPA, Fla. — Kobe Brown scored 12 of his 16 points in the second half when 12th-seeded Missouri pulled away from 13th-seeded Ole Miss for a 72-60 win in Wednesday's SEC Tournament opener.
Ronnie DeGray III had 3 three-pointers and 14 points, all in the first half, to help the Tigers (12-20) keep pace.
Missouri will take on fifth-seeded LSU in Thursday's second round. LSU won the regular-season matchup 75-55.
The winner of Thursday's game will play Arkansas on Friday afternoon.
Matthew Murrell scored 16 points and Jarkel Joiner had 13 for the Rebels (13-19), who lost their fifth straight.