National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
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
Where: Mizzou Arena, Columbia, Missouri
Officials: # Olandis Poole, # Brian Shey, # Sean Casey
Attendance: 4547
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 |