ST. LOUIS, Dec. 23 (UPI) -- A 3-point play by Kim English with 1:27 remaining put Missouri in front for good Thursday and the No. 8 Tigers held on to down Illinois 78-74.
Missouri did not wrap up its victory over the 24th-rated Fighting Illini until Michael Dixon made two free throws with 2 seconds to play.
The Tigers let a 14-point lead get away in the second half and Illinois took a 70-68 lead with 2:01 left when D.J. Richardson made three free throws after being fouled attempting a long-range shot.
Ricardo Ratliffe converted a layup with 1:53 to play to bring the Tigers back into a tie and English gave Missouri the lead again with a layup of his own. He was fouled on the play and his free throw put the Tigers in front 73-70.
Phil Pressey led Missouri with 20 points, Michael Dixon had 18 and Ratliffe added 14.
Missouri is 12-0 for the season, the first time the Tigers have won their first 12 games since 1981.
Illinois (11-2) got 19 points from both Brandon Paul and Joseph Bertrand. The Illini have lost two of their last three.
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- COL BKB: Illinois 64, Cornell 60
- COL BKB: Nevada-Las Vegas 64, Illinois 48
- COL BKB: Missouri 94, William & Mary 56
- COL BKB: Missouri 104, Kennesaw State 67
- COL BKB: Marquette 64, Milwaukee 50
- COL BKB: Michigan State 90, Lehigh 81
- COL BKB: Ohio State 69, Miami (Ohio) 40
- COL BKB: Creighton 97, Northwestern 79
- COL BKB: Harvard 63, Florida Atlantic 51
