Recap: Missouri vs. Arizona State

Columbus, MO (Sports Network) - Kendial Lawrence scored a pair of touchdowns and the Missouri Tigers held off a late charge to defeat the Arizona State Sun Devils, 24-20, at Faurot Field.

Lawrence had only 62 yards rushing in the game while quarterback Corbin Berkstresser threw for 198 yards on 21-of-41 passing in his first collegiate start for Missouri (2-1). T.J. Moe had game-highs in receptions (8) and receiving yards (88).

Taylor Kelly paced the Arizona State (2-1) offense as he threw for 178 yards and a score on 14-for-23 passing and also had a team-high 59 yards rushing.

Missouri registered the first two scores of the game, a 46-yard field goal by Andrew Baggett and a six-yard touchdown run by Berkstresser, to take a 10-0 lead in the opening period.

In the second quarter scoring was limited, but the Tigers finally broke the drought thanks in large part to special teams play. Marcus Murphy fielded a punt and returned it four yards before pitching the ball to E.J. Gaines who scampered 44 yards to set up the Tigers at the ASU 18-yard line. Lawrence then scored on a seven-yard touchdown run four plays later.

Arizona State put a stop to Missouri's scoring streak with a 33-yard touchdown pass from Kelly to D.J. Foster with just over two minutes left in the first half.

Just as in the opening half, Missouri was the first to score in the second when Lawrence ran the ball in from one yard out late in the third frame.

Early in the fourth quarter Marion Grice, despite struggling rushing the ball in the game, was able to score a touchdown when he ran in from two yards out to bring Arizona State within 10 points. Grice scored again less than three minutes later, this time on a nine-yard run, but a two-point conversion attempt failed, leaving the Sun Devils with a four-point deficit.

A missed field goal by Baggett gave the Sun Devils the ball with a chance to take the lead. After driving the ball to the Missouri three-yard line ASU stalled as a fourth-and-goal attempt was unsuccessful.

Arizona State got one last chance but Kelly threw an interception with less than a minute on the clock to effectively end the game.

Missouri was a season-best 10-for-22 on third-down conversion attempts in the win.