The Missouri Tigers defense held the the K-State offense to just four field goas en route to a 38-12 victory Saturday at Snyder Family Stadium.

The Wildcats had scored at least one touchdown in every game dating back to a 21-3 loss to Nebraska in 2006.

Leading the way for the Tigers was wide receiver Danario Alexander, who scored three touchdowns while logging 200 receiving yards on 10 catches. The Wildcats had no answer for the 6-foot-5-receiver, who had an 80-yard touchdown reception in which he broke a tackle and then outran the Wildcat secondary for the score.

While the Wildcats won the time of possession battle by a decisive margin, the Wildcats were doomed by turnovers and the inability to score touchdowns in the red zone. The first turnover came at the 1-yard line on a Brandon Banks fumble that went out of the end zone. That gave the Tigers the ball at the 20-yard line and allowed them to score on an 80-yard drive.

The second came at the beginning of the fourth quarter, with the Wildcats trailing 24-12 but with the ball at midfield. The resulting Daniel Thomas fumble deflated the drive and put the tired defense back on the field.

The third turnover came in the next Wildcat possession. Grant Gregory's lone interception ended any chance of a Wildcat comeback as the Tigers returned it to the 25-yard line and scored a few plays later.

Thomas paced the Wildcats with 79 yards rushing, but was unable to find the end zone and struggled to get past the Tiger defensive line.

The Wildcat defense also struggled most of the day, putting very little pressure on Mizzou quarterback Blaine Gabbert. The Wildcat defense failed to do much damage in the backfield, with zero sacks or tackles for loss.

Despite this, the Wildcats still control their own destiny, with bowl eligibility and the North division theirs for the taking next week in Lincoln , Neb. Kickoff for that game is set at 6:45 p.m. and will air on either ESPN or ESPN2.