COLUMBIA, Mo. (Interstat) — A blistering first-half offensive display by Missouri proved too much for a resilient Alabama State team to overcome, as the Tigers secured an 85-77 victory in a nonconference men’s basketball game Thursday night at Mizzou Arena.

The most important part of the game was Missouri’s dominant opening period, where they built a commanding lead that Alabama State spent the entire second half trying to erase. The Tigers shot with precision and force in the first 20 minutes, racing to a 52-39 halftime advantage. That 13-point cushion, built on a series of early runs, provided the necessary buffer to withstand a determined second-half push from the visiting Hornets.

Missouri’s backcourt duo of Anthony Robinson and Jacob Crews set the tone from the opening tip. Robinson, a guard from Tallahassee, Florida, scored 19 points and dished out five assists, often serving as the catalyst for the Tigers’ early surge. Crews, a forward from Hilliard, Florida, was equally potent, pouring in 20 points, with several crucial three-pointers that helped stretch the Alabama State defense.

The Tigers opened the game on a 10-2 run, highlighted by a Crews three-pointer and a Robinson layup. Alabama State, led by the sharp shooting of guard Asjon Anderson, refused to fold early. Anderson, from Tacoma, Washington, scored a game-high 23 points, including three first-half three-pointers that kept the Hornets within striking distance. His back-to-back three-pointers midway through the first half briefly trimmed a double-digit deficit to single digits.

However, Missouri responded with its most decisive run. A 12-2 stretch fueled by Crews, Robinson and forward Mark Mitchell pushed the lead to 35-19. Mitchell, from Kansas City, Kansas, finished with 15 points and was a consistent interior presence. Missouri’s offense was efficient and multifaceted, with seven-foot center Shawn Phillips from Dayton, Ohio, adding seven points and three blocked shots, altering numerous attempts at the rim.

Alabama State entered the second half with renewed energy, chipping away at the lead behind Anderson and forward Damarien Yates. Yates, from Somerville, Tennessee, scored all 13 of his points after halftime, including a three-pointer that cut Missouri’s lead to 63-60 with just over 13 minutes remaining, capping a 21-11 run to start the half and sending a ripple of tension through the crowd of 7,976.

That sequence marked the climax of Alabama State’s comeback attempt and the most critical juncture of the final period. Missouri, facing its first real adversity of the night, called a timeout and promptly answered. On the ensuing possession, Robinson found Crews for a clutch three-pointer to push the lead back to six. The Tigers then tightened their defense, forcing several empty Hornet possessions, and a tip-in by Luke Northweather followed by a Sebastian Mack jumper extended the lead back to 67-60. Mack, a guard from Chicago, provided a key spark off the bench with 10 points.

Alabama State guard Tyler Byrd from Memphis, Tennessee, scored 11 points and was active defensively with three steals, helping fuel the second-half rally. But every time the Hornets drew close, Missouri had a response. After Byrd’s three-pointer made it 74-72 with under five minutes left, the Tigers closed the game on an 11-5 run. Robinson scored on a driving layup, and after a Phillips free throw, Crews delivered the final dagger—a three-pointer off an assist from Mitchell with 3:35 remaining that gave Missouri an 80-74 lead and effectively sealed the outcome.

Missouri improved to 9-2 with the win, while Alabama State fell to 3-7. The Hornets, who have faced a challenging early schedule, were competitive but ultimately undone by the early hole. Missouri, which had been installed as a 22.5-point pregame favorite, saw the total score of 162 fall under the betting line of 157.5.

The Tigers will host Bethune-Cookman on Sunday. Alabama State continues its difficult road stretch at Cincinnati on Wednesday.