Missouri wrapped up its regular season in impressive fashion, surging down the homestretch like a Kentucky Derby champion, combining incredible defense with a good closing kick on offense to defeat Alabama 69-50.
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The first half was a rock fight, with Missouri (15-16, 7-11 in SEC) inching to a 21-20 lead at halftime. There was some good defense in that first half, but the two teams each committed 12 turnovers, and 24 total turnovers in a single half of basketball generally gives fans the impulse to avert their eyes.
But the second half was a show. Alabama (16-15, 8-10 in SEC) led 37-36 with about 10 minutes left, but then Missouri went on a 12-1 run to take control of the game as Mizzou Arena got loud. The Tigers won going away.
This was perhaps the defensive game of the year for the Tigers. Alabama plays an up-tempo style and can score some points. The Crimson Tide scored at least 67 points in every game this season, and then Missouri held them to 50. And it could have been 49, although Missouri gave a late foul to give the team’s lone senior, Reid Nikko, a big ovation from the home crowd as he left the court for the final time as a player.
Nikko, the big man from Minnesota, made a lot of progress in his final season, and provided the team with steady interior play down the stretch this season.
The Tigers took charge on the glass, outrebounding Alabama 42-27. Dru Smith had a huge game for Missouri, with 17 points and 8 assists.
Now Missouri heads to Nashville to wrap up the season with the Southeastern Conference Tournament, unless they pull of the improbable feat of winning four games in four days to win the conference tournament. The SEC Tournament champion gets an automatic bid in the NCAA Tournament, so the conference tournament functions as a last chance for any of the teams to make the Big Dance.
Missouri, the 10 seed, plays its first game in the SEC Tournament against 7 seed Texas A&M on Thursday (6 p.m. on SEC Network). The Tigers lost twice to the Aggies this season, but Tiger fans can hope that it’s hard to beat a team three times in a season.
If Missouri wins Thursday, they play 2 seed Auburn on Friday (6 p.m. on SEC Network). Missouri won a thrilled and contentious game with Auburn in Columbia this season, but it’ll be tough to deal them another defeat. But if Missouri does, the Tigers would play in their first ever SEC Tournament semifinal on Saturday afternoon (2:30 p.m. on ESPN).
And if you really want to dream a dream, the SEC Tournament championship is at noon Sunday on ESPN.
Missouri is a long-shot to win the tournament, or even make the final. But winning a game or two in Nashville would be a nice way to cap the season and give a little extra source of optimism heading into the offseason.