Following the suspension of Missouri basketball players Jakeenan Gant and Russell Woods, the Tigers headed to Alabama, where their losing streak continued.

Gant and Woods average 4.5 and 3.5 points per game, respectively, so their presence might not have made a huge difference. But their arrests are another stain on a program that has struggled to find its identity.

On Saturday at Alabama, Missouri lost its eighth straight game. Gant and Woods were replaced by freshman walk-on forward Adam Wolf, who coach Kim Anderson said “was in the right spot every time.” But without the two big men, Mizzou was outrebounded 38-30.

Columbia Police Department arrested the two basketball players on suspicion of possession of drug paraphernalia as the result of the robbery investigation involving Koren Ward, the players’ roommate. The two were released on a signature summons.

“Student-athletes Jakeenan Gant and Russell Woods were notified earlier today they have been suspended for tomorrow’s game at Alabama per athletic department policy,” a Feb. 5 statement from Missouri basketball said. “Their status with the program will be reevaluated next week.”

The search warrant for the players’ apartment was conducted in connection with a Dec. 9 home invasion at The Den apartments, according to a police report. Ward was arrested Jan. 15 in connection with the robbery.

More than a year ago, [Gant was arrested](https://www.themaneater.com/stories/2014/9/16/gant-allen-arrested-assault/) on third-degree assault charges, a misdemeanor.

After last year’s 9-23 season, fans came into 2015-16 with optimism. But after the program announced self-imposed sanctions in the wake of NCAA violations and the current eight-game losing streak, it’s been all but that.

Anderson and Missouri haven’t confirmed whether Gant and Woods will be available as Missouri looks to break its losing streak at Vanderbilt on Wednesday.

And though their contributions haven’t loomed large, anything at this point in the season would help.