Razorbacks Hold On For Road Win At Mizzou
COLUMBIA, Mo.– Missouri guard Wes Clark missed two free throws with 3.3 seconds left as Arkansas came back from a halftime deficit for the second time on the road in SEC play and held on for a 61-60 win at Missouri Saturday afternoon.
Less than 40 hours removed from a buzzer-beating overtime win against Alabama, Arkansas improves to 15-4 overall and 4-2 in the SEC with its fifth road victory in its last eight tries in league action. The Tigers (7-12, 1-5) have now dropped five in a row since opening SEC play with a win against LSU.
In a game that featured 12 ties and eight lead changes, senior Rashad Madden provided the last lead change with a pull-up jumper from just outside the left side of the paint to give the Razorbacks a 61-60 lead with 1:24 left.
Arkansas came up with a stop on Missouri’s next possession but failed to extend its lead before the Tigers got the ball back. With just five team fouls, Madden smartly fouled with 5.3 seconds left to force Missouri to in-bound from the sideline in front of their bench. The Tigers got the ball to Clark, who scored six straight points for Missouri late in the second half, and he was fouled driving baseline.
Holding a 61-60 lead, head coach Mike Anderson used one of his two remaining timeouts with 3.3 seconds left. A 74 percent free throw shooter on the year, Clark missed both free throws off the right rim and Madden grabbed his career-best ninth rebound of the game before launching the ball down the court before he could be fouled.
The win snaps a three-game losing streak for Arkansas at Mizzou Arena.
Arkansas was led in scoring by senior Alandise Harris’ 14 points on 6-of-9 from the field. Harris scored 16 points in 18 minutes off the bench at Missouri last season, which was also a one-point game. Sophomore Bobby Portis used six offensive rebounds to corral his fifth consecutive double-double which featured 12 points and 10 boards.
Entering the game 21st in the nation in offensive rebounding, Arkansas’ 16 offensive caroms that helped it overcome a 37 percent (23-63) day from the field. Along with their offensive rebounds, the Razorbacks were also able to extend possessions by committing a season-low three turnovers, including none from the seven guards that played.
The 60 points is the least surrendered by the Razorbacks in SEC play, as Missouri shot 40 percent (23-58) and was led by sophomore Johnathan Williams III’s double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds.
#RazorStat Of The Game
After becoming the first player in program history with four straight double-doubles in SEC play thanks to his tip-in at the buzzer against Alabama on Thursday, sophomore Bobby Portis stretched his record to five with his 12 points and 10 rebounds against the Tigers. His five straight double-doubles equal his total from all of 2013-14 as he’ll look to equal Derek Hood’s record of six straight from 1999. Hood posted three straight to close SEC regular season action and then three straight in the SEC Tournament.
Coach Anderson Postgame Sound
“I thought we played with a lot of guts today and I liked that we didn’t go away. We didn’t play our best, but our energy and focus never left. Coach Kim Anderson does a great job and he had these guys ready to go in front of a big home crowd. We were fortunate they missed those two free throws, but we put ourselves in position to win and that’s what you have to do.”
@RazorbackMBB Quick Hits
• Marks the first time since 1997-98 Arkansas has won 15 times before its 20th game.
• Arkansas has now won two SEC road games (at Georgia & at Missouri) when trailing at the half.
• Arkansas has won five of its last eight SEC regular season road showdowns.
• Arkansas’ three turnovers are a season-low and the fourth game with single-digit miscues.
• The first turnover came at the 14:40 mark of the second half.
• Portis and Qualls have led Arkansas in scoring all but three games with Harris accounting for two of those.
• Harris has scored double figures two straight games at Missouri, going for 30 points in 49 minutes.
• Three of Harris’ six career double figure games in SEC play have come on the road.
• Portis has reached double figures in a career-best 14 consecutive games.
• Portis’ five straight double-doubles feature 30 offensive rebounds.
• Portis has all seven double-doubles by a Razorback this season and 12 for his career.
• Portis has nine double-doubles in his last 21 games.
• Portis has five or more offensive boards in five straight contests.
• Madden is just the 11th player in program history with 300 career assists.
• Madden is two assists away from being in the program’s all-time top 10 in assists.
• Madden’s nine rebounds are a career-high.
Up Next
Arkansas will look for a little revenge on Tuesday night at Bud Walton Arena when it hosts Tennessee. The Volunteers defeated the Razorbacks, 74-69, in Knoxville less than two weeks ago. Both teams are tied for second in the SEC standings. Tip is slated for 8 p.m. CT on ESPNU.
