National Basketball Association
Missouri 59, Western Kentucky 56
When: 3:00 PM ET, Saturday, December 3, 2016
Where: Mizzou Arena, Columbia, Missouri
Officials:
# Olandis Poole, # Brian Shey, # Sean Casey
Attendance:
4547
By The Sports Xchange
Cullen VanLeer made two free throws with 1.9 seconds left to help Missouri hang on to beat Western Kentucky 59-56 on Saturday in Columbia, Mo.
The Tigers led by one point when VanLeer was fouled after his rebound of Pancake Thomas' unsuccessful 3-point attempt for the Hilltoppers (3-6).
Freshman Frankie Hughes led Missouri (4-3) with 18 points. Justin Johnson scored 14 to lead the Hilltoppers.
Western Kentucky scored eight straight points to cut the Tigers' lead to one with 1:36 to play. VanLeer's free throws were the first Missouri points since the seven-minute mark.
The Hilltoppers led most of the first 20 minutes, but Missouri closed out the half with a 10-2 run that included two Hughes 3-pointers. The Tigers led 33-30 at halftime.
The two teams combined to make just eight of their 39 3-point attempts. The Tigers shot just 35 percent from the field, but they out-rebounded the Hilltoppers 44-30.
Western Kentucky has eight days off before a game at Indiana State. Missouri hosts Miami (Ohio) on Tuesday.
Top Game Performances
| Western Kentucky |
|
Missouri |
|
Justin Johnson 14 |
Scoring |
Frankie Hughes 18 |
|
Junior Lomomba 6 |
Assists |
Terrence Phillips 5 |
|
Que Johnson 8 |
Rebounds |
Terrence Phillips 8 |
|
Justin Johnson 4 |
Free Throws Made |
Frankie Hughes 5 |
|
Tobias Howard 2 |
Steals |
Cullen VanLeer 3 |
|
Ben Lawson 3 |
Blocks |
Willie Jackson 1 |
Team Stats Summary
| Team |
Points |
FG% |
3PM-3PA |
FTM-FTA |
Assists |
Rebounds |
Blocks |
Steals |
Turnovers |
| Western Kentucky
|
56 |
40.4 |
3-15 |
11-19 |
11 |
28 |
4 |
7 |
15 |
| Missouri
|
59 |
35.1 |
5-24 |
14-21 |
10 |
40 |
1 |
10 |
17 |
