Mizzou falls to Houston in Classic

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Andre Owens scored a game-high 24 points, including a free throw with 9.7 seconds left, as Houston beat Missouri 57-55 for third place on Wednesday night in the Guardians Classic.

The Cougars won despite not making a field goal in the last six minutes. Lanny Smith's 3-pointer with 6:01 to play gave Houston a 55-46 lead.

With 16 seconds remaining, the Tigers' Kevin Young was called for walking, nullifying a field goal. And just before the buzzer, Linas Kleiza missed what would have been a game-tying layup.

Missouri (2-3) has lost three straight after winning its first two games of the season.

Jason Conley led Missouri with 13 points, while Jimmy McKinney contributed 13. Kleiza, who had 19 points against Houston last week, was held to nine points.

The Tigers, who connected on 12 3-pointers in defeating Houston 77-61 on Nov. 16 at Columbia, missed their first six 3-pointers before McKinney hit a 3-pointer to start the second half. Missouri was only 2-for-16 in 3-point range.

The Cougars led by as many as nine points in the first half behind the shooting of Owens, who had 15 points halftime. Houston led 35-28 at halftime.

The Tigers committed nine turnovers and hit only 34.5 percent of their first-half shots as the Cougars went 15-of-30 from the field.

Houston started the second half cold, scoring just two points -- an Englebert Cherrington field goal -- in the first eight minutes as Missouri pulled within one with 12:38 left on a Kalen Grimes free throw. But Owens made back-to-back 3-pointers with 8:23 left to start a 10-2 run.

The Tigers responded with seven unanswered points, including three from Conley, to pull within two points with 3:14 left.

Missouri played without reserve guard Spencer Laurie, who has missed the past two games with a sprained right ankle.