Columbia, Mo. ? Missouri missed its last 10 shots from the field and six of its last eight free throws — and still managed to hang on against their toughest opponent so far.

Jason Conley had 16 points and 13 rebounds and Missouri’s defense limited No. 12 Gonzaga to a season-worst 38 percent shooting in a 63-61 victory Thursday night.

“Our defense is getting better, that’s all I can say,” Conley said. “It doesn’t matter how long you didn’t score or how long you didn’t get a field goal.

“If you have more points than them, that’s all you need.”

Linas Kleiza added 11 points despite foul trouble for Missouri (7-5), which lost in overtime to Gonzaga last December. Kleiza, Missouri’s leading scorer with a 17-point average, fouled out with 3:29 left.

Missouri, in its first action since losing by six to top-ranked Illinois on Dec. 22, improved to 16-38 against teams in the Top 25 in six seasons under Quin Snyder. This was the Tigers’ first victory over a ranked opponent since they beat Oklahoma State in double-overtime Feb. 24 at home.

Missouri won despite going only 7-for-17 from the free-throw line and 6-for-24 from three-point range.

Ronny Turiaf, who averages a team-leading 19 points for Gonzaga, missed two free throws with a chance to tie it with 8.4 seconds left. Turiaf, battling two ankle injuries, had six points on 2-for-15 shooting along with nine rebounds.

“I’m supposed to be a leader and I’m supposed to step up and knock down those two free throws,” Turiaf said. “I didn’t. That’s it.”

Missouri assistant coach Melvin Watkins, right, holds back Gonzaga's Adam Morrison after Morrison became embroiled in a verbal altercation with Missouri's Jimmy McKinney after the game. Mizzou won, 63-61, Thursday in Columbia, Mo.

Turiaf also missed badly on another chance to tie, a driving layup with about 3 seconds left that banged high off the side of the backboard, and Adam Morrison was short on a three-point attempt at the buzzer. Gonzaga (10-2) had been given another opportunity when Missouri’s Kalen Grimes missed two free throws with 7.6 seconds left.

Morrison and Missouri guard Jimmy McKinney clashed briefly after the game as fans stormed the court.

“One of their players put his fingers in my face and said a few choice words that I can’t say in the papers,” Morrison said. “I just told him to get his hand out of my face.”

Nebraska 62, Tennessee 61

Knoxville, Tenn. — Marcus Neal hit three free throws with 1.2 seconds left, lifting Nebraska. Tennessee (6-5) led 61-57 with 41 seconds left but missed four foul shots in the last 36 seconds. Neal led Nebraska with 17 points.

Kansas St. 81, E. Illinois 63

6Sports video: Missouri Tigers hung on (12-30-04)

Manhattan — Jeremiah Massey scored 19 of his 24 points after halftime, leading Kansas State. Cartier Martin added 16 points for the Wildcats (9-1), who made a solid comeback from their first loss of the season Tuesday.

Baylor 73, Purdue 72

West Lafayette, Ind. — Tim Bush scored a career-high 23 points for Baylor (6-3).

Oklahoma 104, Florida A&M 45

Norman, Okla. — Freshman Longar Longar had a career-high 27 points in his first career start, and Terrell Everett and Taj Gray each scored 18 for Oklahoma.

Forward Kevin Bookout sat out because of an injury to his right elbow, but that simply gave more playing time to the freshman Longar, who also had seven rebounds in 32 minutes — both career-bests.

He made 10 of 13 field goals, was 7-for-8 from the free-throw line and topped off the performance with two rim-rattling two-handed jams in the final few minutes.

Darius Glover scored the first 10 points of the second half for the Rattlers (2-7).