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Bowers returns, but No. 17 Mizzou falls at LSU

Jan 31, 2013 - 4:37 AM Baton Rouge, LA (Sports Network) - Anthony Hickey had 20 points, Andre Stringer scored 18 and the LSU Tigers edged the 17th-ranked Missouri Tigers, 73-70.

Johnny O'Bryant III posted a 14-point, 11-rebound double-double for LSU (11-7, 2-5 SEC), which beat a Missouri team that welcomed back leading scorer Laurence Bowers.

The senior forward returned Wednesday after missing the previous five games with a sprained MCL in his right knee, but his presence wasn't enough to help Missouri (15-5, 4-3) notch its first road win of the season.

Phil Pressey supplied a game-high 25 points for Missouri, which fell to 0-4 as the visitor. Jabari Brown had 19 points, while Bowers, who was averaging 16.8 points before the injury, finished with 10.

"Obviously, we didn't start out the way we wanted to. We have to get better in that aspect of the game," Bowers said. "As far as my health, I was fine. I was just happy to be back out there with my guys. I just have to continue to get better."

Earnest Ross drilled a 3-pointer to trim Missouri's deficit to 68-66 with 32.6 seconds remaining. Off the ensuing inbounds play, LSU got a breakaway lay-in from O'Bryant, who couldn't complete the three-point play at the foul line.

Two quick scoring drives by Pressey sandwiched around a pair of O'Bryant free throws made it 72-70 with 14.6 seconds to play.

After Shavon Coleman made 1-of-2 free throws, Pressey couldn't hit a 3- pointer. Coleman had a chance to seal the win, returning to the line with 4.1 seconds left, but he missed both attempts. Fortunate for him and the rest of his LSU teammates, Missouri was unable to get a desperation shot off before the buzzer sounded.

"It was a tight game. They have a great team," Stringer said. "We've been in a lot of tight games this year. We were finally able to put things together and pull this one out."

LSU held Missouri to 26.9 percent shooting in the first half and led 39-26 at the break.

A Hickey layup extended the lead to 16 points, but a Pressey-fueled 12-0 Missouri surge closed the gap to 46-42 with just under 14 minutes remaining. Pressey scored eight points during the run.

Hickey responded by hitting three consecutive jumpers, including a 3-pointer, to put LSU up 53-42.

Game Notes

LSU won the only previous meeting with Missouri in the 1980 NCAA Tournament ... LSU shot 55.6 percent, while Missouri made just 37.7 percent of its shots ... Brown had seven rebounds ... Pressey dished out five assists.