Razorbacks Take Down #10 Tigers

Razorback Communications February 13, 2021

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Up one in overtime, Arkansas’s Jalen Tate blocked a shot with 21 seconds left and Moses Moody followed with a steal with 12 seconds left to lead Arkansas to an 86-81 overtime win at 10th-ranked Missouri Saturday afternoon at Mizzou Arena.

Inside the final 35 seconds, Moody had an assist leading to a one-point lead, had a steal and sank two free throws for a 3-point lead. Arkansas (16-5, 8-4) has won six straight SEC games for the first time since Feb. 2017 and stands in second place in the league with LSU. Missouri falls to 13-5 overall, 6-5 in the SEC.

The win was the Razorbacks’ first over an AP top 10 program since defeating #5 Texas on Jan. 27, 2016, in Bud Walton Arena. It was additionally the Hogs’ first road win over an AP top 10 team since handing #10 Tennessee a 73-69 defeat on Feb. 25, 2006. In fact, it was just Arkansas’ fifth-ever road win over an AP top 10 team and, like today, the Razorbacks trailed at halftime in all five wins.

The final seconds of overtime were set up when Moody hit a cutting Davonte Davis for a layup with 35 ticks left for a one-point Arkansas lead (82-81). On the ensuing possession, Missouri’s Dru Smith looked to have an open lane to the basket but Tate blocked the shot from behind. The officials initially called basket interference. After reviewing the play, it was ruled to be a clean block. However, with the call, the ball was deemed dead, resulting in a jump ball with possession to Missouri.

With the Tigers keeping the ball, Moody stripped Mizzou’s Parker Braun and corralled the ball before getting fouled and making two free throws for a 3-point lead. Missouri missed a 3-pointer with three seconds left, Justin Smith was fouled, and he connected on both free throws to provide the 86-81 final.

Smith led Arkansas with 19 points, scoring 11 in the second half and six in overtime. Moody, who was 6-fo-6 at the free throw line, finished with 16 points and Tate had 14. Connor Vanover scored 12 points, all in the second half on 5-of-6 shooting from the field (2-of-3 from 3-point range).

Arkansas trailed by four at halftime but shot 59.3% from the field in the second half thanks to 10 assists on 16 field goals made. The Razorbacks were 20-of-23 from the free throw line, including 6-of-6 in the second half and 7-of-9 in overtime.

The Razorbacks were up four (73-69) after a Smith layup with 1:20 left. Mizzou answered with a Mitchell Smith grabbed an offensive rebound and laid it in with 42 seconds left and, after the Hogs missed a shot with 18 seconds left, the Tigers came down and Braun converted a layup to tie the game, 73-73, with nine seconds left. On Arkansas’ final possession I regulation, Braun blocked a Davis shot to force overtime.

Xavier Pinson led the Tigers with 23 points and Dru Smith added 12.

Arkansas returns home to host Florida on Tuesday (Feb. 16). Tipoff is set for 6:00 pm (CT) and the game will be televised on ESPN2.

FIRST HALF: Arkansas 31 – Missouri 35

Moses Moody scored Arkansas’ first seven points before picking up two fouls and sitting most of the first half (played 8:45).
Both teams started slowly, each committing five turnovers in the first nine minutes and Missouri led 10-9 at the 11:36 mark. (NOTE: Arkansas only committed eight turnovers in the final 34 minutes of the game.)
Arkansas got to within two, 31-29, on a Vance Jackson Kr., 3-pointer with 2:11 left.
Missouri made 6-of-14 from 3-point range (5-of-11 from 2-point range) but committed 11 first-half turnovers.
Moses Moddy led the Hogs with seven first-half points and Desi Sills led the team with four rebounds.
Missouri’s largest first-half lead was nine points at the 9:50 mark.

SECOND HALF: Arkansas 42 – Missouri 38

Arkansas scored the first six points of the second half and led, 37-35, for the first Razorback lead since 2-0.
Connor Vanover was scoreless in the first half but scored 10 of the Hogs’ 23 points to start the second half to give Arkansas a 54-51 lead at the second media timeout (11:52).
Arkansas led by seven (58-51) with 11:02 left but the Tigers hit a pair of 3-pointers and tied the game at 60-60 with 7:40 left.
The Razorbacks led by four with 1:20 left before Missouri got an offensive put-back with 42 seconds left and a layup with nine seconds left to tie the game and force overtime.

OVERTIME: Arkansas 13 – Missouri 8

Justin Smith scored first to start OT.
Missouri was just 1-of-3 from the field, going the final 2:50 without a field goal with four free throws.
Arkansas was 3-of-5 from the field and 7-of-9 at the free throw line.
Missouri led 79-77 after two Pinson free throws with 2:15 left in OT. Tate was fouled getting an offensive rebound. He made 1-of-2 and later Moody made a pair at the line to put the Hoge up one (80-79). Mark Smith made two free throws and the Tigers led 81-80 with 58 seconds left.
From that point, Davis made his layup with 35 seconds left, putting the Hogs up one and setting up the final flourish.

GAME NOTES

Arkansas now leads the all-time series with Missouri, 29-26, and is 10-8 vs the Tigers since Mizzou joined the SEC.
Arkansas has won six straight for the first time since Feb. 2015, when the Hogs won seven straight.
Arkansas’ starting lineup was Jalen Tate (G) – Davonte Davis (G) – Moses Moody (G) – Justin Smith (F) – Connor Vanover (F) for the third consecutive game.
Arkansas won the opening tip. Arkansas is 9-2 when controlling the tip.
Moses Moody scored the game’s first points, a driving shot in the lane at 19:45.
Desi Sills and JD Notae were the first subs for Arkansas.
Arkansas is 3-4 when trailing at the half – 1-3 in road games – and the Hogs are now 7-15 when trailing at the half under Musselman. Musselman’s collegiate teams are 32-44 when trailing at halftime.
Arkansas is 1-0 in OT games this year and 2-3 in OT games under Musselman. Musselman’s collegiate teams are 8-6 in overtime games.
The following is the list of Arkansas’ road wins over AP top 10 teams:
1. at #10 Missouri – Feb. 13, 2021 (86-81 OT)
2. at #10 Tennessee – Feb. 25, 2006 (73-69)
3. at #4 Kentucky – Feb. 9, 1994 (90-82)
4. at #9 Arizona – Dec. 6, 1992 (86-80)
5. at #8 Kentucky – Jan. 25, 1992 (105-88)

The last time Arkansas beat a ranked team was at #19 LSU on Feb. 2, 2019 (90-89). The last time Arkansas beat the #10 team in the nation was beating #10 Florida, 85-81 OT, at home (Feb. 18, 2006) and then beat #10 Tennessee, 73-69, a week later in Knoxville (Feb. 25, 2006).
Justin Smith scored his 1,000th career point, now with 1,018. He is the fourth Razorback to score his 1,000th career point this season joining Vance Jackson Jr., Jalen Tate and JD Notae.
Smith led the team in both scoring (19 points) and rebounds (six). He has led the team in scoring four times this season, led the team in rebounding six times and led the team in both the same game twice.
Moses Moody has made each of his last 12 free throws. He has made consecutive double-digit free throws four times this season. E now ranks fourth in the SEC in free throw percentage at 82.2 percent. Even though he scored slightly below his season average, he moved up one spot to sixth in the SEC in scoring at 16.3 ppg.

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