Missouri seeks more balanced scoring as Alabama State comes to town

After suffering losses at Notre Dame and to Kansas at a neutral site, Missouri returns home to regroup ahead of its Dec. 22 game against Illinois in St. Louis.

Missouri's preparations will continue Thursday night against Alabama State in Columbia, Mo.

Missouri (8-2) is searching for more consistent scoring support for forward Mark Mitchell, who leads the team with 18.4 points per game. Guard Jayden Stone, who averages 13.3 points per game, is sidelined by a non-shooting hand injury.

Jacob Crews, who is scoring 13.8 points off the bench, is the only other Tiger averaging in double figures this season. Starting point guard Anthony Robinson II struggled with foul trouble while scoring just 19 points in his last four games.

Missouri coach Dennis Gates switched up his starting lineup during the 80-60 loss to the Jayhawks on Sunday, inserting guard Annor Boateng (6.0 points per game) in place of Sebastian Mack (9.0).

Forward Trent Pierce was expected to be a key performer this season, but he has yet to play due to a lingering lower-body injury.

All of these factors left the Tigers struggling to sustain offensive rhythm in their last two games.

"I think we need to adjust to the other team's adjustments," Mitchell said. "Teams make adjustments, teams find things that are working for them. And I think also, just, we gotta close out halves better."

The Tigers had that issue against both Kansas and Notre Dame.

"I think just closing out the first half will help us start the second half a little better," Mitchell added.

Alabama State (3-6) lost much of the key talent from its NCAA Tournament team last season. But the Hornets have a potent backcourt comprised of guards Asjon Anderson (17.9 points per game) and Micah Simpson (16.9).

Anderson, a transfer from Queens University of Charlotte, earned SWAC Impact Player of the Week honors after scoring 30 points in a 93-87 loss at New Mexico on Nov. 26.

The Hornets enter on a three-game losing streak after a 3-3 start. The highlight of their season to date was a 77-74 win at UAB on Nov. 11.

After the UAB game, Hornets coach Tony Madlock noted that daunting but lucrative nonconference schedules are a business necessity for SWAC teams.

"Y'all understand that we have to go play these games on the road," Madlock said. "And they're never easy. They're never easy, what we have to go through."

--Field Level Media