MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- Quarterback Skyler Howard returned from a first-half injury scare and West Virginia's rebuilt defense proved resilient until the final two minutes in a 26-11 win over Missouri on Saturday.

Justin Crawford ran for 101 yards and a score, Rushel Shell ripped off a 23-yard touchdown and Mike Molina was 4-for-4 on field goals in place of suspended All-Big 12 kicker Josh Lambert to spoil Barry Odom's debut as Tigers coach.

Howard completed 23-of-35 passes for 253 yards with an interception and failed to throw a touchdown for only the second time in 16 career starts. Daikiel Shorts caught eight passes for a career-best 13 yards.

Missouri (0-1), among the worst FBS offenses last season, posted 462 yards but couldn't finish its chances under new coordinator Josh Heupel.

Four times the Tigers netted nothing after moving inside West Virginia's 30-yard line, low-lighted by Tucker McCann's missed field goal after a fumble recovery at the Mountaineers' 7.

Drew Lock hit Chris Black for the Tigers' first touchdown with 1:49 left and the stadium half-empty. After recovering an onside kick, Missouri's comeback ended with an incompletion on fourth-and-goal.

Lock finished 23-of-51 for 280 yards.

After Howard left with a rib injury late in the first half, West Virginia's backup quarterbacks committed two turnovers on the next three plays.

William Crest fumbled backward on his passing windup, leading to McCann's missed chip shot, and Chris Chugunov threw an interception into double-coverage on his first college pass.