However, a veteran Missouri team clawed its way back late in the first half, when Cooper was forced to sit because of foul trouble.
While Missouri led by as many as seven in the second half, Auburn battled back and took the lead for good with 7:34 left on a floater from Cooper.
Auburn also showed it could come back and grab a victory after losing an early double-digit lead, something it failed to do last Wednesday in a road loss at Arkansas.
Two weeks ago, in a win over Georgia, Auburn became the first team in Division I basketball to have 14 blocks in a single game this season.
Cooper, a freshman point guard who missed Auburn’s first 11 contests this season, had his fourth 20-point outing in six career games.
Bruce Pearl’s young Tigers, which also got 23 combined points from freshmen forwards JT Thor and Chris Moore, are now 4-2 since Cooper was ruled eligible by the NCAA.
- Cooper too much for Mizzou in loss to AuburnSTLtoday.com
- Photos: No. 12 Mizzou falls to AuburnSTLtoday.com
- Cooper stars again as Auburn topples No. 12 MissouriNews-Herald.com
- Mizzou basketball's three-game win streak is snapped by Auburn as shooting goes coldKansas City Star
- Sharife Cooper leads Auburn past No. 12 Missouri in biggest win of seasonal.com
- PHOTOS: Auburn vs. Missouri men's basketballOpelika Auburn News
- No. 12 Missouri Tigers vs. Auburn Tigers men's basketball video highlights, final scoreMontgomery Advertiser
- Five things we learned in No. 12 Mizzou basketball's 88-82 loss at AuburnBlue Springs Examiner
- Cooper, strong bench effort spark Auburn to win over No. 12 Missouri247Sports
