Jason Crowe Jr. scores 23 in his Missouri debut as the Tigers rout Cleveland State 111-50

Missouri freshman Jason Crowe Jr. scored 23 points in his first college game Tuesday night, and the Tigers beat Cleveland State 111-50 at Mizzou Arena. ESPN's box score has him at 9 of 16 from the field and 4 of 7 from three, with three rebounds and two assists in 30 minutes.

Crowe started at point guard, which is new for him. He was a five-star shooting guard in high school in Inglewood, California, and coach Dennis Gates moved him to the point this fall, CBS Sports reported before the opener. Gates said at media day that Crowe is "a better passer than anybody gives him credit for." In the Oct. 23 exhibition at Kansas State, Crowe had 21 points and five assists.

He got going early on Tuesday. Crowe hit a 3 during Missouri's opening 15-0 run and had 13 points at halftime, when the Tigers led 56-18, according to the AP. Missouri shot 59% in the first half and held the Vikings to 27%.

The final margin, 61 points, was the biggest in a season opener in program history, according to KRCG and the team. Seven Tigers scored in double figures. Kennard Davis Jr. had 19 off the bench, Toni Bryant had 15, Jamier Jones added 13, and Mark Mitchell finished with 11 points and 10 assists.

Missouri did this without two players. Jaylen Carey was suspended for violating team rules, and C.J. Gunn was ineligible under SEC rules after signing a pro contract, the AP reported.

Cleveland State shot 33% and made 2 of 16 threes, so this wasn't much of a test. Saint Louis comes to Columbia on Friday at 7 p.m. ET, and Missouri plays at Marquette on Nov. 15. Those games will show how Crowe runs an offense against better guards. Against Cleveland State, he got to his step-back whenever he wanted it.