ST. LOUIS, Dec. 23 (UPI) -- Nick Smith had an assist and steal in the final minute Tuesday as No. 19 Illinois wasted a 21-point lead before a 71-70 win over No. 14 Missouri.
Missouri (4-2) trailed throughout before forging a 67-67 tie on Travon Bryant's 3-pointer with 1:29 to go. Illinois (7-2) broke the deadlock, thanks to a big play by Smith.
Illinois guard Dee Brown found Smith open on the baseline and Smith made a nifty shovel pass to James Augustine for a layup and a 69-67 lead. On the Tigers' next possession, Smith knocked away an entry pass from Arthur Johnson for a steal.
Brown missed two at the line with 39 seconds to go, but Johnson's short bank shot rimmed out. Brown made a pair of free throws with 19 seconds remaining, offsetting a meaningless 3-pointer at the buzzer.
Bryant and Rickey Paulding scored 19 points apiece.
