Mark Mitchell scored a career-high 31 points to lead No. 15 Missouri to a 110-98 Southeastern Conference victory over No. 4 Alabama on Wednesday night in Columbia, Mo.
Caleb Grill finished with 25 points, 10 rebounds and three steals for the Tigers (20-6, 9-4 SEC), who improved to 17-1 at home.
Anthony Robinson II scored 14 points and snagged three steals and Tamar Bates added 13 points and four steals as Missouri earned its third victory over a Top 5 team this season.
Mark Sears poured in 35 points and added five assists for the Crimson Tide (21-5, 10-3). Labaron Philon scored 14 points, and Mouhamed Dioubate had 13 points and 10 rebounds as Alabama lost its second straight game — never leading in either contest.
Missouri shot 60.3 percent from the floor and outscored Alabama 31-15 at the free-throw line.
The Tigers raced to a 12-0 start with Trent Pierce and Robinson scoring five points each. Back-to-back 3-point shots by Grill and Bates pushed the margin to 24-9.
Aden Holloway stabilized Alabama with a personal 8-2 run to cut Alabama’s deficit to nine points.
Missouri extended its lead to 51-31 with 3:58 left in the first half when Mitchell capped a 9-3 run with a transition dunk. But Alabama chipped down that lead to 59-46 at the half on Philon’s late 3-pointer.
Each team shot just over 60 percent from the floor during the first half, but Missouri forced 10 turnovers and scored 15 points off them.
The Crimson Tide continued their push early in the second half. They cut the deficit to 10 points three times before Grill scored five straight points to put Missouri up 72-57.
Sears rallied the Crimson Tide with a three-point play and a deep 3-pointer to cut the lead to 79-73.
Missouri used a 9-0 run highlighted by Mitchell’s three-point play to regain control. But Alabama pulled within six points in the final minute before Bates sealed the victory with four points.
–Field Level Media
