Ceola Clark tied a career high with 27 points, including five 3-pointers, to help Western Illinois hold off UMKC for a 68-63 victory Saturday.
Clark, a sixth-year senior granted an extra year of eligibility because of injuries, was 8 of 13 from the field, including 5 of 8 from behind the arc. Terell Parks added 15 points, including a game-sealing layup with 4 seconds left, and 14 rebounds. Jack Houpt scored 11 points.
The Leathernecks (5-3, 2-0 Summit League) never trailed but saw UMKC pull within 58-57 on Alton Tanner's jumper with 3:06 to play. But Adam Link and Parks hit jumpers of their own, and Clark and Parks each made two free throws in the final minute.
Thomas Staton led the Kangaroos (3-4, 1-1) with 15 points. Nelson Kirksey added 11 and Tanner had 10.
The victory was just WIU's fourth all-time in 21 games at UMKC.
