Mark Mitchell scored a career-high 31 points to lead No. 15 Missouri to a 110-98 victory over No. 4 Alabama on Wednesday night in Columbia, Mo.
Caleb Grill finished with 25 points, 10 rebounds and three steals for the Tigers (20-6, 9-4 Southeastern Conference), who improved to 17-1 at home.
Anthony Robinson II scored 14 points and snagged three steals and Tamar Bates added 13 points and four steals as Missouri earned its third victory over a Top 5 team this season.
Mark Sears poured in 35 points and added five assists for the Crimson Tide (21-5, 10-3). Labaron Philon scored 14 points, and Mouhamed Dioubate had 13 points and 10 rebounds as Alabama lost its second straight game — never leading in either contest.
No. 1 Auburn 67, Arkansas 60
Johni Broome recorded 16 points and 13 rebounds to help the Tigers post a victory over the visiting Razorbacks.
Chad Baker-Mazara scored 15 points and Chaney Johnson added 14 as the Tigers (24-2, 12-1 Southeastern Conference) won their third consecutive game. Auburn saw a nine-point second-half lead turn into a one-point deficit, but Baker-Mazara’s basket with 2:41 left put the Tigers on top for good.
Adou Thiero scored 16 points and Johnell Davis had 14 points and three steals for the Razorbacks (15-11, 4-9), who lost for the third time in the past four games.
No. 10 St. John’s 82, DePaul 58
Sadiku Ibine Ayo made his first start of the season and scored 13 of his career-high 15 points during a decisive first half as the Red Storm, minus their leading scorer, rolled to a victory over the Blue Demons in Chicago.
With star RJ Luis Jr. (groin) sitting, Ibine Ayo started for the first time in his two years with St. John’s (23-4, 14-2 Big East). He went 3-for-4 from 3-point range as the Red Storm shot 7-for-12 from beyond the arc en route to a 41-25 halftime lead. Deivon Smith scored a team-high 18 while Kadary Richmond added 17 points and nine rebounds.
Isaiah Rivera had 16 points for the Blue Demons (11-16, 2-14), who shot 32.7 percent. DePaul has lost four in a row by a combined 61 points, and the Blue Demon have dropped their past seven matchups with the Red Storm.
No. 17 Kentucky 82, Vanderbilt 61
The Wildcats remain without three point guards due to injury, but a patchwork lineup led by Otega Oweh and Amari Williams held off the Commodores in Lexington, Ky.
The duo combined for 37 points and helped Kentucky turn a one-point halftime advantage into a comfortable victory. Kentucky (18-8, 7-6 SEC) connected on 58 percent of its shots, including 65.4 percent (17-for-26) in the second half. Oweh wound up with 20 points and seven rebounds, and Williams added 17 points, six boards and four blocked shots.
Vanderbilt (17-9, 5-8) likely damaged its NCAA Tournament bubble status with the defeat. The Commodores, who were paced by Devin McGlockton’s 14 points and 10 rebounds, shot just 8-for-27 (29.6 percent) in the second half.
