Missouri will try to finish its nonconference home schedule unbeaten when it hosts Alabama State on Monday night in Columbia, Mo.The Tigers (10-2) have won all 10 games on their home court so far, with their only losses coming at Memphis, 83-75, in the season opener and against Illinois, 80-77, in St. Louis on Dec. 22.This is Missouri’s final tune-up before starting Southeastern Conference play on Jan. 4.”The SEC has proven to be the best conference in the country so far,” Tigers guard Tamar Bates said. “Being in these close games and having these lessons to look back on, we will know what we have to clean up.”Missouri coach Dennis Gates saw positives in the Tigers’ losses to NCAA Tournament-caliber teams.”I’m thankful for the way we respond in adversity,” Gates said. “That’s what … our two losses provide. It provides Intel of how our guys have stayed connected through a little adversity … they’ve stuck together and they’ve dug themselves out of certain situations.”Guard Mark Mitchell leads Missouri with 13.8 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. Bates (12.7 ppg) and fellow guard Anthony Robinson II (10.7) have picked up the slack for the Tigers while Caleb Grill (13.6) remains sidelined with a neck injury.Tony Perkins is coming off his best game since transferring to Missouri this season from Iowa. The guard stepped up with 18 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals against Illinois when Robinson struggled.
