COLUMBIA, Mo. — Mizzou Men’s Basketball handed No.10 Alabama its first SEC loss of the season with a wild 68-65 win on Saturday. Mizzou now has three wins over Top 10 teams this season, its most since 2011-12.
Redshirt senior Dru Smith paved the way on offense as he totaled 16 points, eight rebounds, and four assists. Senior Mark Smith added 12 points and a career high five steals. Sophomore Kobe Brown contributed 13 points along with nine rebounds.
The Tigers held the Crimson Tide to their second-worst shooting game of the season at 33 percent. Mizzou was relentless defensively, tallying nine blocks and 11 steals.
Mizzou controlled the interior with 46 points in the paint. The Tigers got off to a hot start, taking the lead 2:53 into the game and never gave it back, leading by as much as 22 in the second half.
Turning Point
The Tigers fought off a late massive run by Alabama with a clutch block from Mitchell Smith with four seconds remaining and Mizzou leading by one. Xavier Pinson sealed the game with a pair of clutch free throws to secure Mizzou’s fourth win over a ranked opponent this season.
Top Tigers
- Dru Smith led all scorers with 16 points. Dru had a complete game pacing the offense with a game-high four assists and eight rebounds.
- Kobe Brown grabbed a game-high nine rebounds. He added 13 points on 6-of-11 shooting.
- Mark Smith contributed on both ends of the floor scoring 12 points and swiping a career-high five steals.
Game Notes
- Saturday’s win was Mizzou’s 6th over the Crimson Tide in school history. Mizzou now has back-to-back wins over the Crimson Tide for the first time since Jan. 8, 2013 and Jan. 18, 2014.
- With the win, Mizzou improves to 13-3, the best 16-game start to a season since the 2013-14 squad started with the same record.
- Saturday’s win was Mizzou’s fourth ranked win of the season, the most in a single campaign since the 2011-12 squad.
- The 2011-12 team was also the last to defeat three AP Top-10 ranked teams during the regular season (3 Baylor, 8 Kansas, 6 Baylor).
- Mizzou’s nine blocks was the most in a game since 12/29/2015 when the Tigers had 11 swats against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
- Mizzou has finished with three or more players in double figures in 13 of 16 games this season. Dru Smith has scored in double figures in eight consecutive games.
- Mizzou’s 11 steals matched its season high.
- Mizzou has held opponents to fewer than 80 points in 21 of the last 23 games. Mizzou is 8-0 this season when holding their opponent to fewer than 70 points.
Up Next
No. 18 Mizzou heads back on the road to face Ole Miss in Oxford on Wednesday. The Tigers and Rebels are set to tip off at 8 p.m. CT on Q94 93.9 fm and the SEC Network.
