Missouri Falls to No. 23 Alabama, 90-64

Tigers unable to sustain early pace, Crimson Tide pull away with hot shooting performance

Jan. 28, 2026 at 11:55pm

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The Missouri men's basketball team kept pace early but could not maintain it, falling 90-64 to No. 23 Alabama on Tuesday night in Tuscaloosa. The Tigers stayed within striking distance for much of the first half before Alabama seized control with a decisive late surge, pulling away with a 15-2 run heading into halftime.

Why it matters

This loss drops Missouri to 14-7 overall and 4-4 in SEC play, making it more difficult for the Tigers to build momentum and secure a postseason berth. Alabama, on the other hand, solidifies its ranking as a top-25 team with the dominant home victory.

The details

Alabama's ball movement on the perimeter consistently generated open looks that Missouri's defense lacked an answer for. The Tide finished the game 15-for-39 from three-point range, while Missouri only went 4-for-21 from deep. Missouri briefly showed signs of life early in the second half, cutting into the deficit, but Alabama quickly answered with a flurry of three-pointers to push the margin back to double digits.

  • The Tigers stayed within striking distance for much of the first half before Alabama seized control with a decisive late surge.
  • A 15-2 run gave the Crimson Tide separation heading into halftime.
  • Missouri briefly showed signs of life early in the second half, cutting into the deficit, but Alabama quickly answered.

The players

Shawn Phillips Jr.

Missouri senior center who finished with 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.

T.O. Barrett

Missouri sophomore guard who led the team with 13 points.

Mark Mitchell

Missouri senior forward who added 11 points but struggled at the free-throw line, going 1-for-8.

Latrell Wrightsell Jr.

Alabama graduate guard who scored a game-high 21 points, including seven made three-pointers.

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What’s next

Missouri will return to Mizzou Arena on Saturday to face Mississippi State as they look to bounce back from this loss.

The takeaway

This game highlighted the challenges Missouri faces in competing with top-ranked teams in the SEC, as their inability to slow down Alabama's perimeter shooting and struggles at the free-throw line ultimately proved too much to overcome. The Tigers will need to regroup quickly to keep their postseason hopes alive.