Basketball (M)

#13 Arkansas Rallies to Beat #20/21 Missouri in SEC Home Opener

Mike Cawood January 4, 2023
Final Stats

FAYETTEVILLE – Ricky Council IV scored 21 second-half points to lead #13 Arkansas (12-2, 1-1 SEC) to a come-from-behind win over #20/21 Missouri (12-2, 1-1 SEC) in the Razorbacks’ SEC home opener Wednesday night at Bud Walton Arena.

Council finished with 25 points, making 11-of-13 at the line with a season-best seven rebounds, while Joseph Pinion provided a big spark off the bench, playing a career-high 27:28 and scoring a career-high 13 points. Kamani Johnson was also a key factor in the win, getting eight rebounds and drawing six fouls.

Arkansas erased its largest deficit of the season (17 points; 25-8 with 9:31 in the first half) thanks in part to an 8-0 run to end the first half and a 10-4 run to start the second. Pinion hit a triple late in the first half and another to cap the 10-4 second-half start.

Later in the second half, Arkansas used a 9-0 run to take its first lead (43-42) and extend the advantage to 46-42. In the run, Arkansas had back-to-back fastbreak possessions with a Council dunk and Davonte Davis layup while Pinion drained a 3-pointer.

Missouri bounced back to tie the game at 46 before Council drained a 3-pointer to put the Hogs up 49-46, a lead Arkansas would not relinquish. Overall, Arkansas went on a 7-0 run and was able to hold off the Tigers the rest of the way.

Missouri made a final push, getting to within three (66-63) but Anthony Black hit his only 3-pointer of the game to put the Hogs up six with 3:11 left. Both teams struggled to score down the stretch, but Council was 5-of-6 at the line inside the final 25 seconds to secure the win.

Davis, who led the team with a +11, finished with 10 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals. Jordan Walsh and Makhi Mitchell added seven rebounds and Black had five assists.

Arkansas hits to the road to face #22/20 Auburn on Saturday (Jan. 7). Tipoff is set for 7:30 pm (CT) and the game will be televised on SEC Network.

FIRST HALF: Arkansas: 27 – Missouri: 34

  • Arkansas outrebounded Mizzou 21-13 thanks to seven first half boards by Jordan Walsh.
  • Joseph Pinion provided a spark off the bench, leading Arkansas with seven points.
  • Arkansas was down as many as 17 (27-8) in the first half.
  • Arkansas ended the first half on an 8-0 run and trailed by seven.
  • Missouri was 10-of-14 at the line compared to Arkansas being 5-of-10.

SECOND HALF: Arkansas: 47 – Missouri: 34

  • Arkansas scored first to start the second half to complete its best run of the game, 10-0.
  • Arkansas shot 61.5 percent from the field in the second half (compared to 35.7 percent in the first) and was 4-of-9 from 3-point range (compared to 2-of-12 in the first).
  • Council was 10-of-11 at the line in the period and grabbed six of his seven rebounds in the frame.
  • Arkansas out-scored Mizzou 17-6 on fastbreak points in the second half. Overall, Arkansas 18-11 over Mizzou on fastbreak points. The two teams were 1-2 in the SEC in fastbreak points entering the game.
  • Arkansas outrebounded the Tigers 19-10 in the half.

GAME NOTES

  • This was Arkansas’ SEC home opener. The Hogs are 20-12 in SEC home openers and snapped a two-game losing streak in such games. This was the first time a ranked Arkansas team hosted a ranked opponent in an SEC home opener.
  • Arkansas is 18-5 all-time when ranked #13 in the AP poll, including a 12-1 mark in home games. Arkansas is 11-5 when playing the #20 team in the AP poll, including a 5-2 mark in home games.
  • Arkansas is now 48-50 when ranked and playing a ranked opponent, including an 18-5 mark when doing so at home. The Hogs have won six straight when ranked at home and hosting a ranked opponent, including four-straight under Coach Muss.
  • Including tonight, Arkansas has trailed at halftime in six of the last 10 games. Arkansas is now 4-2 when trailing at the half this season.
  • Arkansas has won five straight in the series and six of the last seven. Overall, Arkansas leads 33-26, including a 14-8 mark since Mizzou joined the SEC. Arkansas is 9-2 versus the Tigers in Bud Walton Arena in SEC games.
  • Did you know, in this Arkansas’ 100th year of basketball, tonight marked the 100th anniversary to the day of Arkansas’ first ever home game (Jan. 4, 1924). Arkansas defeated Northeastern State, 43-22, in Schmidt Gymnasium … A.K.A. Schmitt’s Barn.
  • Also, this is the 30th year of basketball in Bud Walton Arena. Did you know, the Arena dedication game on Dec. 2, 1993, was versus Missouri, a game Arkansas won 120-68. (NOTE: The first game played in Bud Walton Arena was Nov. 29, 1993, versus Murray State).
  • Arkansas has won 17 straight in Bud Walton Arena and is now 175-68 in SEC games in the building.
  • Arkansas’ starting lineup was Anthony Black – Davonte Davis – Ricky Council IV – Jordan Walsh – Makhi Mitchell for the seventh game. The lineup is 6-2 and is the most common fivesome this season.
  • Missouri won the tip.
  • Missouri’s Ronnie DeGray III scored the game’s first points, a 3-pointer at 19:36. Makhi Mitchell scored the Razorbacks’ first points at 18:42.
  • Kamani Johnson was the first Razorback sub.
  • The game only featured one tie and one lead change.
  • Ricky Council IV has scored in double figures in 13 of 14 games and scored 20-plus five times. He has led the team in scoring a team-best six times.

 

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