Michael Dixon hit the go-ahead layup with 1:25 remaining as No. 10 Missouri used a balanced attack to subdue No. 21 Illinois 75-64 on Wednesday.

The teams played it tight for the first 38 minutes, with neither team owning a double-digit lead until the Tigers (11-1) pulled away late. Dixon's short shot put Missouri up 60-58, and Ricardo Ratcliffe followed with a layup with 53 seconds remaining.

D.J. Richardson's 3-pointer cut the deficit to one before Missouri's Laurence Bowers hit a layup and a pair of free throws to clinch the Tigers' sixth consecutive victory.

Marcus Denmon led the way with 15 points for Missouri, which won despite surrendering 18 offensive rebounds and getting trounced on the boards 44-32 overall. Bowers had 13 points while Ratcliffe added 12, Justin Safford chipped in with 11 and Dixon had 10.

Mike Davis had a game-high 17 points to pace the Fighting Illini (10-3), who lost their second in a row following a seven-game winning streak. Demetri McCartney added 14 points in defeat, while Mike Tisdale had nine points and a game-best 13 rebounds.