Short-handed Missouri’s skid reaches eight games with 80-71 loss at Alabama

The losing streak for short-handed Missouri hit eight games Saturday at Alabama.

That’s one for every scholarship player the Tigers had available in a 80-71 loss against the Crimson Tide at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Missouri, 8-15 overall and 1-9 in the SEC, was without three backup frontcourt players. Sophomore forward Jakeenan Gant and junior forward Russell Woods were suspended Friday after being cited a day earlier for possession of drug paraphernalia.

Sophomore forward D’Angelo Allen also didn’t make the trip, because he’s battling strep throat.

The Tigers put together an at-times scrappy performance despite the roster limitations but were no match for the Tide, who won the rebounding battle 38-30.

“Obviously, when it came down to it, the rebounding was a major factor and the second-chance points,” Missouri coach Kim Anderson said.

Alabama, 13-9 and 4-6, led by as many as 24 in the second half.

Freshman forward Kevin Puryear and senior forward Ryan Rosburg, who combined for 39 of Missouri’s 71 points, did their best to spark a rally that fell short.

Puryear finished with a career-high 22 points and six rebounds. Rosburg, the only player available to Anderson taller than 6 feet 7, added a career-high 17 points, including 10 straight during a 10-2 run after the Tide opened the game’s largest lead, with a team-high seven rebounds.

The Tigers trailed 40-28 at halftime after being doubled up 24-12 during the final 10:35 of the first half and never got closer than 12 points until the final minute.

Missouri’s furious, desperation rally — fueled by sophomore guard Tramaine Isabell — trimmed the lead to seven points.

During the final minute, Isabell, who finished with 10 points, hit a free throw and dropped in two layups, including one with 25.1 seconds remaining that trimmed Alabama’s lead to 78-71.

Time eventually ran out on the Tigers — who have lost 22 consecutive road games, including 19 in a row in SEC play, and have dropped 26 in a row away from Mizzou Arena against NCAA Division I teams.

Alabama’s largest lead was 67-43.

“Sometimes we play like a real basketball team, and as I told them yesterday in practice, sometime they wanna be the Washington Generals, but the only problem with that was not many of them knew who the Washington Generals were,” Alabama coach Avery Johnson said.

Riley Norris led five Tide players in double figures with 18 points.

Retin Obasohan had 16 points, seven rebounds and four assists for Alabama.

“(Obasohan) gets in the lane, he’s got that floater. Thing’s hard to guard,” Anderson said. “Give him credit. He’s a good player. I remembered him from a year ago. … He’s definitely improved.”

Forward Adam Wolf — a 6-foot-7 freshman walk-on, who had played 10 minutes in four games this season — gave the Tigers 12 minutes off the bench. He was scoreless but tied his career high with three rebounds.

Alabama had the game’s only blocked shots — nine — including four apiece from Taylor and freshman Donta Hall.

ALABAMA 80, MISSOURI 71

TableStyle: SP-bkwideplayersCCI Template: SP-bkwideplayers

Percentages: FG .421, FT .833. Three-Point Goals: 3-16, .188 (Puryear 2-3, VanLeer 1-4, Clark 0-1, Wolf 0-1, Phillips 0-2, Wright 0-5). Blocked Shots: 0. Turnovers: 9 (Clark 3, Isabell 2, Wright 2, Puryear, Rosburg). Steals: 5 (Clark 2, Phillips, Isabell, Rosburg). Technical Fouls: None.

TableStyle: SP-bkwideplayersCCI Template: SP-bkwideplayers

Percentages: FG .472, FT .636. Three-Point Goals: 9-28, .321 (Edwards 3-8, Norris 3-8, Obasohan 2-3, Coleman 1-4, Austin 0-2, Schaffer 0-3). Blocked Shots: 9 (Taylor 4, Hall 4, Edwards). Turnovers: 13 (Edwards 4, Obasohan 3, Coleman 3, Kessens 2). Steals: 4 (Taylor 2, Norris, Coleman). Technical Fouls: None.

Half: Alabama 40-28. Attendance: 15,383. Officials: Brian Shey, Bart Lenox, Jacyn Goble.

AP-WF-02-06-16 2223GMT

This story was originally published February 6, 2016 at 3:10 PM with the headline "Short-handed Missouri’s skid reaches eight games with 80-71 loss at Alabama."