// a href = ./ //

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) - A suburban St. Louis couple's $5 million donation to the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine will go toward improving research for drugs used to fight cancer in both animals and people.

The university announced the estate gift from Cottrell and Kay Fox of Town and Country on Monday.

The university says the couple wanted to recognize their longtime family veterinarians, James Schuessler and Fred Bendick of St. Louis, who both graduated from the college.

The university says in a news release that the Foxes' gift will support an endowment in companion animal medicine. It also will fund research to develop treatments for people and animals with cancer and improve training for graduate students and veterinary oncology residents.

Cottrell Fox is a 1971 graduate of the university's journalism school.

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) - The state's largest bricks-and-mortar college is making it easier for students to earn degrees without leaving home.

The University of Missouri's flagship campus in Columbia on Friday announced a $2.5 million expansion of its online degree programs. The new initiatives include an online master's degree in public health, a bachelor's degree in educational studies and an online master's in public affairs.

Provost Brian Foster says the school is modifying its online admissions requirements to no longer require degree-seeking students to first obtain 60 hours of transfer credits or an associate's degree.

The move comes shortly after Gov. Jay Nixon unveiled plans to team up with the nonprofit Western Governors University to broaden Missouri residents' access to online higher education.

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) - Fabyon Harris had 17 points, including the game-winning 3-pointer with 12 seconds left, to help Texas A&M to a 70-68 victory over No. 21 Missouri on Thursday night.

The loss dropped the Tigers (16-6, 5-4 Southeastern Conference) to 0-5 in true road games. They have won three games at neutral sites this season.

Laurence Bowers was wide open when he hit a 3-pointer to give Missouri its first lead of the game, 68-67, with 53 seconds left.

Harris turned it over on Texas A&M's next possession, but Phil Pressey gave it right back with a turnover to set up the winning score for A&M (14-8, 4-5).

Ray Turner blocked a shot by Keion Bell with 2 seconds left to secure the win.

Alex Oriakhi led the Tigers with 15 points.

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) - The University of Missouri's first year in the Southeastern Conference continues to pay dividends away from the field.

School officials on Tuesday announced an $8.3 million gift from Don and Audrey Walsworth of Marceline. The donation follows a $30 million gift from the Kansas City Sports Trust in June and a $6.4 million anonymous contribution in December.

The Walsworth gift will go toward previously announced Memorial Stadium improvements. The school plans to add 6,000 seats to the stadium, which now holds 71,004 fans.

Missouri will also build a new clubhouse for the men's and women's golf teams at a private course in Columbia used by the school.

Walsworth is the CEO of a northern Missouri publishing company and a former chairman of the university's Board of Curators.