Alabama Basketball: Tide Ice Cold in Home Loss to Mizzou
By Mike Parham
The Alabama basketball team lost at home to Missouri while shooting a season-low from the field
Coming off of a huge win against Oklahoma, the Alabama basketball team seemed to have a bit of a hangover, and so did the fans. The seats were noticeably empty in Coleman Coliseum and the Tide played sluggish from start to finish.
Even with Collin Sexton’s 23-points, the Tide couldn’t find consistent offense from any other player. The only Tide player that scored in double-figures besides Sexton was Dazon Ingram, who finished with ten points.
This loss now ends Alabama’s unbeaten streak in SEC home games, this season, at four. It is also Missouri’s first time beating the Tide since joining the SEC.
Throughout the game, Alabama got some wide-open looks but couldn’t knock anything down. The Tide went 5-for-25 in three-point attempts and shot a horrible 35 percent overall.
There were many stretches in the first-half where the Tide seemed uninterested and out of sync. Luckily, they were able to correct it quickly before the game got out of hand early.
Alabama finished the first-half strong by forcing turnovers and getting to the free throw line. Ultimately, cutting a twelve-point deficit to two with a three-point buzzer beater from Sexton.
Alabama basketball started the second-half by continuing to force Mizzou turnovers while getting some of their key players into foul trouble. However, Alabama failed to capitalize because they were still cold and battling foul trouble with multiple players as well.
Both teams combined to go 2-for-12 in the first five minutes of the second-half. However, the Tide again missed an opportunity to capitalize because they went scoreless for almost four minutes.
John Petty, Herbert Jones, and Braxton Key Struggle
Another reason why the Tide weren’t able to overcome Missouri’s mistakes, was the cold shooting night from John Petty and Braxton Key. Key who hit two clutch three-pointers against Oklahoma, attempted only one shot tonight and scored a grand total of one point.
Petty, didn’t get his first points until 6:20 remained in the game, and that was from the free-throw line. He didn’t record his first field goal until 5:39 remained and went 0-for-5 on three-pointers. Petty ended the game with only five points.
Herbert Jones, coming off of his best game of the season, was also held scoreless and was a non-factor throughout the game. A combined six points from three key players really hurt the Tide.
This loss really hurts Alabama basketball who fall to 14-8 and fifth in the SEC. A win would have tied them for second place.
Next: Alabama Football: One week out – where the Tide stands with QB recruits
Alabama’s next game is an away game against the No. 23 ranked Florida Gators Saturday at 3 PM CST. After the Gators, the Tide travels to Starkville on Tuesday to face Mississippi State. The Bulldogs beat South Carolina in Columbia, SC on Wednesday night.