Coming off a two-win week, the Missouri Tigers were in for one of their toughest tests of the year as they faced off against No. 4 ranked Alabama. To open the game, Trent Pierce and Anthony Robinson II both scored 5 points within the first 3 minutes, sparking a commanding 12-0 run for the Tigers. From that point on in the first half, Mark Mitchell took control, scoring 18 of his career-high 31 points. Mitchell finished the game 11-for-15 from the floor. Caleb Grill also played a key role, contributing 25 points and being crucial for the Tigers throughout the second half.
All game long, Alabama struggled with foul trouble, with Grant Nelson, Mark Sears Jr., and Labaron Philon each picking up two fouls in the first half. In the second half, Mizzou couldn’t fully pull away, as the Crimson Tide kept fighting back. Despite Alabama’s resilience, the Tigers managed to secure a victory, finishing with a staggering 110 points. Five Tigers—Bates, Grill, Robinson, Mitchell, Perkins, and Robinson—finished in double figures, helping Mizzou grab their 9th win in conference play.
What looked good vs. Alabama:
- Just 8 turnovers
- Albe to get good looks at basket (18/24 on layups and dunks)
- Shot well outside the arc (9/23 3FG)
- Forced 14 turnovers (10 in first half)
What looked bad vs. Alabama:
- Free throw shooting (66%)
- Anthony Robinson needs to stay out of foul trouble (had 3 in first half and finished the game with 4)
Coming off the massive win over Alabama, the Tigers faced off against the Arkansas Razorbacks for the second edition of the "Battle Line Rivalry" this season. This time, the game was in Fayetteville, and the Tigers were tasked with a tough road challenge. Turnovers proved to be an early issue, as Mark Mitchell and Tony Perkins combined for 7 turnovers in the opening half. Despite the turnover troubles, Caleb Grill and Marques Warrick led the offensive charge for the Tigers, helping them go into halftime with a 7-point lead.
Mizzou managed to turn things around in the latter part of the first half, looking more composed and passing the eye test in the final 13 minutes. However, the Razorbacks came out strong in the second half, quickly shrinking the Tigers' lead to just 1 point, and from that point on, the momentum shifted in Arkansas' favor. The Razorbacks outscored Mizzou 51-37 in the second half, and the Tigers fell short despite strong performances from Mark Mitchell (17 points) and Marques Warrick (16 points). With the 92-85 loss, it's the second consecutive game where Mizzou has allowed 90+ points.
What looked good vs. Arkansas:
- Marques Warrick was able to lead the offense and be a guy who was able score at will
- 13/17 FT
- 41 bench points
What looked bad vs. Arkansas:
- 18 turnovers
- Forced to take a lot of bad shots in the second half
- 4/17 3FG in second half
Takeaways from the week:
- When Anthony Robinson is effective, this team is one of the top teams in the country.
- Whenever there is a need for quick scoring, Marques Warrick could emerge as the top pure scoring option down the stretch of the season.
- This team is a threat to beat any team in the nation
Current Record: 20-7 (SEC: 9-5)
Next Week:
Tuesday (2/25): home vs. South Carolina (8 pm CST)
Saturday (3/1): away at Vanderbilt (5 pm CST)