COLUMBIA, Mo., Sept. 28 (UPI) -- Brad Smith rushed for 137 yards on just 13 carries and passed for a touchdown Saturday as Missouri posted a 44-7 victory over Troy State in its final non-conference tuneup.
The Tigers (3-1) came out fired up after last week's 51-28 loss to Bowling Green and needed less than three minutes to take the lead on Smith's 20-yard touchdown pass to Thomson Omboga.
After Zack Abron scored on a five-yard run five minutes into the second period, Smith rambled in from 28 yards 4 1/2 minutes later to give Missouri a 21-0 lead.
Troy State (1-4) got on the board on Hansell Bearden's 43-yard pass to Jason Samples just 84 seconds into the second half. But Abron scored on a three-yard run before Mike Matheny kicked field goals of 28, 26 and 35 yards to give the Tigers a 37-7 lead early in the final quarter.
Less than a minute later, linebacker James Kinney capped the scoring with a 14-yard interception return.
Bearden completed 16 of 26 passes for 225 yards with a pair of interceptions for the Trojans. DeWhitt Betterson paced Troy State on the ground with 79 yards on seven carries.
Missouri hosts Oklahoma next week in its Big 12 Conference opener.
