COLUMBIA, Mo. — The tag team of Mark Mitchell and Caleb Grill powered a triple-digit offensive showing as No. 15 Missouri toppled No. 4 Alabama in a shootout.

The Tigers (20-6, 9-4 Southeastern Conference) beat the Crimson Tide (21-5, 10-3) 110-98 Wednesday in front of a sold-out crowd, gaining ground in the race for a top-four finish in the SEC.

One week after setting his career-high against Oklahoma, Mitchell was once again a dominant offensive force and set a new mark to beat of 31 points. Guard Caleb Grill added 25 points, all but 10 of which came in the second half to stave off any Alabama hopes of a comeback. Grill also grabbed 10 rebounds, a team high.

Alabama star Mark Sears led his side with 35 points.

By beating the Crimson Tide, Missouri has taken down three top-five teams in the same season for the first time since the 1988-89 season, when the Tigers toppled No. 5 North Carolina, No. 5 Oklahoma and the Sooners again when they were ranked No. 1.

Mizzou's first half was its highest-scoring of the season, leading to a 59-46 advantage at the break.

The Tigers scored the first 12 points of the game, knocking down a couple of early 3s and keeping the 'Bama offense from finding any traction in the opening minutes.

MU's lead swelled to 20 on a dunk by Mitchell with just under four minutes to go in the first half.

The hosts' previous high score for a first half this season was November's nonconference win over Pacific, when Missouri put up 54 points in the first 20 minutes.

When the lead dipped to 10 points early in the second half, the Crimson Tide were penalized for their second flagrant foul of the game.

Grill rattled home a 3-pointer with just under 15 minutes to go to pull the crowd back to its feet. On the next trip down the floor, he banked a fadeaway off the glass to put the Tigers up 72-57.

A deep Sears trey cut the lead to six with just under 10 minutes to play, the closest 'Bama had been since Mizzou's game-starting 12-0 run. A hook shot by forward Trent Pierce and Mitchell securing an and-one to set his new career high restored a double-digit lead within 90 seconds, though.

To nurse the advantage, the Tigers slowed their pace down offensively, working to into the paint and to the free-throw line. Late in the shot clock, Grill was the go-to man — unfazed by contests and off-balance looks.

Missouri crossed the century mark with two minutes to play via Mitchell at the free-throw line as Alabama intentionally fouled the Tigers.

After what looked like a Mizzou steal wound up back in the hands of the Tide, Sears drained a quick-release 3 with 47 seconds to go to climb back within six points. Guard Tamar Bates shaking loose for a full-court pass and then stealing the ball seconds later from the Tide re-established a double-digit lead once again.

On the next Alabama possession, a blocked jumper by point guard Anthony Robinson II recovered by Grill sealed the game.

MU coach Dennis Gates took to the public address system with one second left to ask fans not to storm the court. They complied. If they had rushed the floor, Missouri would've faced a $500,000 fine from the SEC.

Takeaways

— Alabama is known for playing fast. MU started the game trying to be faster. The Tigers' opening possessions saw plenty of quick actions and players shooting the ball as soon as they were open — a lack of hesitation that fueled the high-scoring first half.

— By most statistical counts, Alabama didn't play a bad first half, shooting 60% from the field, 50% from 3-point range and 86% from the free-throw line — but trailing by 13 points. The Tide's best offense was their trademark early 3s, especially when their shooters beelined to the corner in transition for looks before the Mizzou defense could set up shop.

— One part of MU's offense that did not go smoothly: free throws. The Tigers got 47 tries from the charity stripe but made only 31, a 66% clip. That made the home team's lead feel rather slippery in the waning minutes.

Key moment

Mizzou Arena has been loud at times this season — December's upset of then-No. 1 Kansas, for example. But the MU crowd as hardly been as rowdy as when Alabama coach Nate Oats picked up a technical foul with about five minutes to go in the first half.

As Grill broke away toward a wide-open floor, Sears grabbed his arm, drawing an immediate whistle — and after review, a flagrant foul. Oats, clearly incensed by his team's start and the sequence smashed his whiteboard on the court. That sent the Missouri student section dancing and center Josh Gray excitedly making the "T" signal with his hands before picking up a piece of Oats' broken whiteboard and handing it to an Alabama assistant coach with a smile.

Key stat

59: MU's 59 first-half points weren't just the most in a first half this season — they were the most that the Tigers have scored in the first half of a conference season this millenium, according to statistician Tom Orf's tracking. The last time they scored that many in a league game was a February 1996 game against Nebraska.

Up next

Missouri hits the road for its second game of the season against Arkansas, meeting the Hogs in Fayetteville. The Razorbacks (15-10, 4-8) will be playing with all the desperation of a team perched on the NCAA Tournament bubble. The Tigers won the first matchup 83-65 on Jan. 18 in Columbia.

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