How Missouri Tigers rolled to impressive victory over No. 4 Alabama: Recap & analysis
To define the Missouri Tigers’ 110-98 win over No. 4 Alabama, you’d need only one word:
Efficient.
In nearly all aspects, right out of the gates.
The No. 15 Tigers poured in a stellar offensive performance from the jump on Wednesday at Mizzou Arena. Missouri took control with a 12-0 run in the first three minutes and shot 61.1% from the field, 42.9% from 3 in the first half.
Mark Mitchell posted 18 points in the first half and finished with a career-best 31 for the game. The Tigers erupted for their most points against a ranked opponent in a single half all season — leading 59-46 at half — and they never trailed the Crimson Tide (21-5, 10-3 SEC).
“I’m proud of the way we started and ended the game,” head coach Dennis Gates said.
The Tigers forced 10 turnovers in the first half, leading to 15 points, in what was a near-perfect frame for a Missouri team that never hit the brakes. Entering Wednesday’s game, Alabama had averaged just 13.2 turnovers per game.
They nearly hit that mark through 20 minutes.
Missouri led by as many as 20 points and for 39:28 of game time.
“We came here to fight today,” Mitchell told the SEC Network postgame. “We knew they were going to be a good team. We knew what we worked on. We knew we were going to fight, we knew we were going to compete. We don’t care about rankings. We’re just going to do what we do, man.”
The Crimson Tide came into Mizzou Arena looking to avoid a mark they hadn’t succumbed to all season — back-to-back losses. Alabama, previously ranked No. 2, suffered a loss to top-ranked Auburn last Saturday in Tuscaloosa.
Instead, the Tigers continued on with a strong campaign for March by winning arguably their biggest game of the season.
A win that included Gates’ pleas to the student section not to rush the court, at that.
“We can do anything we want to do,” Mitchell said. “We’re one of the best teams in the country. Not a lot of people believed in us, but the proof is in the pudding in what we’ve been doing. I think they’ll just have to start to realize what we are.”
Four of Alabama’s turnovers Wednesday were by its star guard Mark Sears. While Sears, averaging 17.8 points per game, erupted for 35 points, the Tigers at times frustrated him by forcing turnovers and drawing three fouls. That included a flagrant foul for grabbing Caleb Grill’s arm on the same play coach Nate Oats drew a technical for spiking his clipboard.
Grill went to the line for four shots and made three. He finished with 25 points and 10 rebounds.
Mitchell finished with 31 points, eclipsing his previous career-high of 25 set just last week against Oklahoma. The KC native shot 11-of-15 from the field
Together, Mitchell and Grill combined for more than half of the Tigers’ points with 56. Anthony Robinson added 14 points. Tamar Bates had 13, while Trent Pierce posted eight points, six rebounds, five assists.
Alabama had an answer in the second half. At one point, the Crimson tide were shooting 57.1% from the field and 60% from 3, while cutting the Mizzou lead down as far as six points. But the Tigers’ shots continued to fall, while Alabama’s second-half shooting eventually fell off.
The Crimson Tide shot 48.6% for the second half, 53.8% for the game. They made 13 3-point shots.
The Tigers’ 110 points set a program record for conference play.
Next up: The Tigers will head to Fayetteville for some Battle Line action against the Arkansas Razorbacks on Saturday. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at Bud Walton Arena.
This story was originally published February 19, 2025 at 11:08 PM.
