Alabama beats Mizzou, moves to 4-0 in SEC in Nate Oats' 200th win
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Rylan Griffen and Aaron Estrada each scored 21 points as Alabama defeated Missouri 93-75 Tuesday in Tuscaloosa, Ala., to give coach Nate Oats his 200th career victory.
Grant Nelson scored 13 points with eight rebounds, Latrell Whitesell Jr. scored 11 and Nick Pringle added 10 for the Crimson Tide (12-5, 4-0 Southeastern Conference).
Leading Alabama scorer Mark Sears turned his ankle in the first half and was limited to nine points in 25 minutes.
Tamar Bates scored 19 points, Nick Honor scored 18 and Jesus Carralero Martin added 10 for the Tigers (8-9, 0-4), who have lost seven of their last eight games.
Missouri made its first five shots while taking 2-0, 4-3, 8-5 and 10-8 leads. Bates and Sean East II each made two early baskets to get the Tigers going.
But it didn't take Alabama long to get its explosive offense into gear.
Sam Walters and Whitesell hit 3-pointers to put the Crimson Tide up 14-10 — and Alabama led the rest of the way.
Pringle scored three baskets in the paint, including one on an alley-oop, to spark a 15-7 run that put Alabama up 33-22.
The Tigers cut their halftime deficit to 36-34 with Honor hitting a 3-point jumper and a mid-range jumper to lead the comeback. Missouri held Alabama to three points in the final 4:15 of the half.
The teams traded baskets early in the second half, and Missouri cut its deficit to 48-47 with 13:44 left when Nelson's technical foul led to two free throws for East.
The Crimson Tide responded with seven straight points, with Nelson scoring one basket inside and setting up another.
The Tigers got within four points several times before Alabama started knocking down 3-pointers. Griffen hit two from behind the arc and Wrightsell hit one as the Crimson Tide moved up 68-58.
Missouri made one last push to pull within six points. Alabama stretched it out to an 80-67 lead with Griffen hitting two more 3-pointers to put the game away.
—Field Level Media