Arkansas Falls to #12 Missouri

FAYETTEVILLE – Missouri held Arkansas to 26.8 percent shooting from the field and out-rebounded the Razorbacks by 15 as the 12th-ranked Tigers pulled away for an 81-68 victory Saturday afternoon at Bud Walton Arena.

Despite its shooting woes – shooting 24.2 percent in the first half, Arkansas was down by only three points at halftime (33-30). The Razorbacks’ struggles from the field continued into the second half but they stayed within striking distance until a 5-0 Mizzou run gave the Tigers a 12-point lead with eight minutes left.

Missouri pushed its lead to 18 with 3:24 on the clock. Arkansas did not back down, trimming its deficit to 10 after a Desi Sills layup with 1:55 remaining. Mark Smith answered with a 3-pointer to put the game out of reach.

Jeremiah Tilmon led the Tigers with 25 points and 11 rebounds while Xavier Pinson added 23 points. Smith finished with 11 points and nine rebounds.

The loss spoiled the first career double-double for Razorback freshman Moses Moody. The Little Rock product had 18 points and a career-high 10 rebounds. JD Notae scored 19 points for the Hogs.

Arkansas did force 21 turnovers off 13 steals and only committed nine turnovers. While the Razorbacks took 20 more shots than the Tigers, Missouri made five more field goals and had 14 assists on its 24 made baskets.

Up next, Arkansas will face Tennessee – currently ranked seventh nationally – on Wednesday (Jan. 6). The game will be nationally televised on ESPN2 with tipoff set for 6 pm (CT)/7 pm (ET).

GAME NOTES

• Arkansas trailed at halftime for just the second time this season. Missouri ed for 18:10 and Arkansas only led for 14 seconds.
• Both teams started slowly. Missouri used a 6-0 run to lead 14-7 at 11:42. Arkansas answered with a 12-3 run, including a 7-0 spurt, to take a 19-17 lead on a JD Notae layup. Notae had seven for the Razorbacks during the 12-3 run.
• Mizzou got back on top with back-to-back baskets and the lead was no more than six for the Tigers the rest of the first half.
• Arkansas lost to Mizzou for just the 10th time in games played in Fayetteville (now 18-10) and just the second time at home in an SEC game (now 7-2).
• Arkansas’ starting lineup was Jalen Tate (G) – Desi Sills (G) – Davonte Davis (F) – Moses Moody (G) –Connor Vanover (F) for the first time this season. True freshman Davonte Davis earned his first career start.
• For the third time this season, Arkansas lost the opening tip.
• Jeremiah Tilmon scored the game’s first points, a dunk at 19:44. Davonte Davis scored the Razorbacks’ first points, a layup at 18:28.
• JD Notae and Jaylin Williams were the first subs for Arkansas. Notae for the seventh time and Williams for the third.
• Moses Moody is the only Razorback to score in double figures in all 10 games this season. He is also the only Razorback to make a 3-pointer in all 10 games. He entered the game as one of four players in the SEC to average at least 15.0 points and 5.5 rebounds.
• This was the first time Arkansas did not have at least one run of 10-0 or better. Missouri’s best run was 6-0 and no opponent has had a double-digit run this season.
• Arkansas had five blocked shots, including two from Connor Vanover and two from Jaylin Williams. Arkansas entered the game 7th in the NCAA in blocks per game and second in overall blocked shots.
• Connor Vanover was 4-of-4 at the free throw line versus Mizzou. He is a perfect 16-of-16 at the stripe this season. Moses Moody made his first free throw attempt before missing his second to snap a streak of 12 consecutive makes at the line. Earlier this season, he made 15 straight free throws.

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