GAME NOTES: The 12th-ranked Texas Longhorns and Missouri Tigers finally get their respective Big 12 schedules underway when they meet up at the Mizzou Center in Columbia this weekend. The Longhorns have won 13 of their 15 games this season with the two losses coming against a pair of top-notch Big Ten programs in Michigan State and Wisconsin. Since the back-to-back losses, Rick Barnes' squad has posted consecutive wins to end the non-conference portion of their schedule, topping TCU (67-59) and most recently, Saint Mary's-CA (81-62). The Longhorns are a perfect 9-0 in Big 12 openers under Barnes. The Tigers will try to end that run in this one, as they bring a solid 10-5 mark into league play. Missouri has had its ups and downs of late, splitting its last four games. However, the team ended non-league play on a high note, routing UMKC, 96-76 on Tuesday. This is the 19th meeting between these two teams, with Texas holding an 11-7 advantage, thanks to wins in each of the last nine meetings.

D.J. Augustin hit 11-of-22 shots from the floor and 7-of-7 from the free-throw line, pouring in a season-high 30 points, as Texas posted an impressive 19- point win over Saint Mary's last time out. The Longhorns converted 52.5 percent of their shots in the game, while limiting the Gaels to a mere 35.4 percent clip. The team also forced 12 turnovers and committed just four miscues over the 40 minutes. Forwards Gary Johnson and Damion James added 15 points apiece, while A.J. Abrams chipped in with 13. Augustin and Abrams have been as potent a backcourt duo as there is in the country. Augustin is shooting .488 from the floor, while pacing the team in both scoring (20.5 ppg) and assists (6.1 apg). Abrams is right on his heels with 18.4 ppg and has connected on a team-high 45 three-pointers. The scoring depth continues with James (13.8 ppg) and Connor Atchley (11.1 ppg). Atchley is averaging a double-double with a team-high 10.8 rpg. Johnson (10.0 ppg) is an exciting freshman who has just recently been added to the active roster.

It has been Missouri's ability to make things happen offensively, that has led to the team's strong start. The Tigers are currently averaging a steady 82.1 ppg, on a respectable .466 shooting. The team boasts of a trio of double digit scorers in DeMarre Carroll (14.8 ppg), Stefhon Hannah (13.9 ppg) and Leo Lyons (12.3 ppg). Carroll is shooting a red-hot .584 from the field this season and is also tops on the team in rebounding (6.7 rpg). Hannah is one of the team's top snipers, hitting 41 percent from long range (34-of-83), while also posing as Missouri's top distributor (5.5 apg). The Tigers were tied with the Kangaroos at halftime, but shot 71 percent from the floor over the second stanza to cruise to victory. Lyons hit 10-of-12 shots from the floor and led five players in double figures with 22 points. Carroll added 16 points in the win, while Hannah had a huge game with 13 points, 11 assists, six rebounds and four steals. Jason Horton and Keon Lawrence added 11 points each for good measure.

The Tigers have not lost at home this season and while they certainly have the personnel to beat just about anyone on their own floor, the Longhorns are starting to get their stroke back. Behind yet another strong effort from Augustin and Abrams, Texas is likely to make it 10 straight conference opening wins under Rick Barnes.