Instant Analysis: Alabama 93, Missouri 75
TUSCALOOSA, Ala.— On a day marred by cold weather, the Missouri men's basketball team failed to come away with its first SEC victory in a road contest against Alabama.
The Tigers were competitive even in the midst of a chippy, physical game, but that wasn't enough to overcome a late run by the Crimson Tide featuring key makes from the perimeter. Those big shots eventually put the game out of reach, despite the fact that Missouri was down just two points at the break against one of the most prolific offensive units in the country.
There were opportunities throughout the night for the Tigers to draw closer in a game that they only held the lead on four occasions early in the first half. The smallest second-half deficit for Missouri was one point, with just under 14 minutes to play. From there, the wheels began to fall off. Immediately after a Sean East free throw made it 48-47, Alabama went on a 5-0 run that ended in a three-point connection by guard Mark Sears which sparked the Crimson Tide for the rest of the game.
The final score doesn't tell the full story of how close the affair was. Tamar Bates and Nick Honor led the offensive charge for the Tigers, both players coming within a basket of the 20-point mark. Bates was 7-for-8 from the field. Honor hit four shots from three-point land. However, there was just one other Missouri player to score in double figures, and that wasn't enough to cut it against a team that has crossed the 100-point threshold multiple times this season.
