Alabama’s Sharpshooting Sinks Missouri in SEC Blowout
The Missouri Tigers walked into Tuscaloosa on Tuesday night hoping to build on the momentum of their wild, double-buzzer-beating win over Oklahoma. Instead, they ran into a buzzsaw in the form of Alabama’s relentless three-point attack - and walked out with their third straight SEC road loss, a 90-64 drubbing that exposed some familiar issues for Dennis Gates’ squad.
Missouri now sits at 4-4 in SEC play, having dropped three of its last four games. And while there were flashes of competitiveness early, Alabama’s firepower from deep - and Missouri’s inability to match it - turned this one lopsided in a hurry.
Alabama’s Long-Range Barrage
The Crimson Tide didn’t just rely on the three - they lived by it. Alabama launched a staggering 39 shots from beyond the arc and connected on 15 of them, a 38.5% clip that proved more than enough to separate themselves from the Tigers. That’s not a surprise if you’ve been following Alabama this season - they lead the SEC in both makes and attempts from three, averaging over 12 triples per game on more than 35 attempts.
Missouri, on the other hand, couldn’t find the range. The Tigers went just 4-for-21 from deep (19%), and the shooting woes didn’t stop there.
Overall, Mizzou shot 39.4% from the field (26-for-66) compared to Alabama’s 41.9% (26-for-62). But while the field goal percentages were close, the difference came from the arc - and the stripe.
Free Throws and Turnovers Tell the Story
Missouri’s struggles at the free-throw line were glaring. The Tigers went just 8-for-23 from the line - a brutal 34.8% - while Alabama was nearly automatic, knocking down 23 of 26 (88.5%). That’s a 15-point swing just from the charity stripe, in a game decided by 26.
“Can’t go 8-for-23 from the free-throw line, 4-for-21 from the 3,” Gates said postgame. And he’s right.
When you’re on the road in a hostile SEC environment, you’ve got to capitalize on the freebies. Missouri didn’t.
Turnovers were another dagger. The Tigers coughed it up 13 times in the first half alone, five of them coming during a critical stretch late in the half when Alabama went on a 21-8 run to seize control. That run included five made threes by the Tide, while Missouri missed five free throws and gave the ball away repeatedly.
“We had some costly turnovers that they capitalized on,” Gates said. “Being able to keep the lead - that would have taken a little more accuracy from the free-throw line. But also taking care of the basketball.”
Bright Spots in a Tough Night
There were still a few encouraging signs for Missouri, particularly from some of the younger contributors. T.O.
Barrett, getting his second career start after his breakout 21-point performance against Oklahoma, chipped in 13 points and hit two of Mizzou’s four threes. Jayden Stone knocked down the other two and added eight points.
Mark Mitchell had a solid all-around game with 11 points, five boards, and four assists, while Shawn Phillips Jr. added 10 points and eight rebounds in the paint.
But overall, the Tigers couldn’t keep pace with Alabama’s tempo or shot-making. The Tide’s ability to stretch the floor and punish defensive lapses from deep overwhelmed Missouri’s defense, and the Tigers didn’t have the offensive answers to respond.
Looking Ahead
At 14-7 overall and 4-4 in the SEC, Missouri finds itself at a bit of a crossroads. The flashes of potential are there - that win over Oklahoma was a reminder of what this team can be when it’s locked in - but consistency remains elusive.
The Tigers return home to Mizzou Arena this Saturday to face Mississippi State, a chance to regroup and get back in the win column. With the SEC race heating up and March slowly creeping into view, Missouri’s margin for error is shrinking. If the Tigers want to stay in the hunt, they’ll need to clean up the free-throw shooting, limit the turnovers, and find a way to generate more offense - especially from beyond the arc.
Because in a league where teams like Alabama can put up 39 threes in a night, you can’t afford to fall behind and hope to catch up later. Not in this conference. Not in this stretch of the season.