The Mike Anderson era tipped off with fewer than 6,000 people in attendance last night at Mizzou Arena, but those that showed up to watch the first of two exhibition games on the Missouri basketball team’s schedule had plenty to be excited about.

AP photo

Missouri’s Stefhon Hannah drives up the court in front of Missouri-Rolla’s Dan Kieres during the Tigers’ 105-67 victory in an exhibition game last night at Mizzou Arena. Hannah led MU with 25 points and seven steals.

Playing a frenetic pace seldom seen on Norm Stewart Court, the Tigers had 23 steals, forced 36 turnovers and pummeled outmanned Missouri-Rolla 105-67.

Junior forward Marshall Brown treated the announced crowd of 5,626 to the two biggest highlights, a pair of alley-oop dunks from junior college transfer Stefhon Hannah in the first half.

"However long it was, if it was two hours, it was two hours of entertainment," Anderson said afterward. "Hopefully, that’s something that we’re going to continue to do as we fill up this arena."

The backcourt of Hannah and junior Jason Horton set the tone for the Tigers throughout. Hannah scored a game-high 25 points on 9-for-17 shooting and handed out six assists. Horton didn’t match Hannah’s point production but had six assists and only one turnover.

But where they were most effective was at disrupting the Miners offense before they ever got the ball across half court. Hannah had seven steals and Horton had five, helping Missouri score 18 transition baskets.

"That’s something we can do to other teams with our quickness and with our athleticism is just pressuring the ball and make them turn it over," Horton said.

Horton and Hannah spent most of the past three weeks testing the other’s ability to handle pressure in practice. It was only recently that they got to join forces.

"He first put us on a team like two days ago, and we had like 20 steals together," Hannah said. "We play the passing lanes. We try to play hard."

Others teams will be better suited to handle the MU’s full-court trapping defense than Rolla. In fact, it’s hard to make many assessments after last night’s game.

Missouri won its exhibition opener 105-56 against Division II Bemidji State last fall, but the Tigers went on to finish 12-16. Coach Quin Snyder resigned before the season even ended.

Rolla is likely no better than Bemidji State. The Miners went 2-25 last season and are working in nine new players. They lost an exhibition game against Arkansas State 97-71 on Wednesday night in Jonesboro, Ark.

Missouri grabbed the lead on the opening possession when Kalen Grimes sank a turnaround jumper, and the Tigers, led by Hannah, never really looked back.

But they did leave room for improvement, particularly in the paint, which could be an area of concern for the Tigers throughout this season. Playing without 6-foot-9 sophomore Leo Lyons, who was suspended indefinitely yesterday for violating the team’s academic policy, Missouri got outrebounded 25-18 in the first half. That against a Miners team with no player taller than 6-foot-7.

"It’s always a concern," said Brown, who had 20 points and a team-high nine rebounds. "We know we’ve definitely got to get better in that area."

Grimes had only one rebound at intermission and, after his early jumper, made only one of his next seven shots. Reserves Vaidotas Volkus and Darryl Butterfield had only six rebounds between them in 16 first-half minutes, and they contributed just three points.

But the three picked up their play in the second half as the Tigers wound up edging the Miners on the glass, 47-46.

Anderson was happy to see his team show some progress.

"As you look at a lot of these guys, with the exception of Jason and Marshall, a lot of these guys are just now starting to experience what Division I basketball is, especially with the way we play," said Anderson.

They’ll have another appetizer on Monday when Missouri plays Lithuania Academy in its final exhibition game.