Missouri vs. Arkansas: First Half Breakdown
3:50 First Half: Missouri 37, Arkansas 35
The Tigers called a timeout after the Razorbacks went on a hot streak, hitting five consecutive shots to close the gap to just two points. Darius Acuff, despite spending some time on the bench, leads his team with 11 points.
Arkansas has tightened up on defense, making life tougher for Mark Mitchell, who still boasts a game-high 14 points. T.O.
Barrett and Trent Pierce are navigating foul trouble with two each for Missouri.
7:56 First Half: Missouri 26, Arkansas 22
Missouri has reestablished their presence in the post, thanks to the towering Trent Burns. The 7-foot-5 redshirt freshman has contributed 5 points, just shy of his career high.
Arkansas is struggling with shot selection, but Missouri’s defense deserves credit for that. Mark Mitchell remains perfect from the field, leading the game with 12 points, while Darius Acuff tops Arkansas with 9.
10:44 First Half: Arkansas 20, Missouri 19
Mark Mitchell continues to shine with a game-high 10 points for the Tigers. Meanwhile, Darius Acuff is leading the charge for the Razorbacks with 7 points.
Arkansas has improved defensively, using a two-big lineup with Nick Pringle and Malique Ewin to keep Missouri out of the paint, forcing them to rely on three-pointers. Missouri is 2 of 6 from beyond the arc so far.
Both teams are focusing on attacking the paint, each with eight points inside. The Tigers are set to shoot free throws after the break.
Pregame Insights
Starters:
Arkansas:
- Darius Acuff
- Meleek Thomas
- Billy Richmond
- Trevon Brazile
- Nick Pringle
Missouri:
- T.O.
Barrett
- Jayden Stone
- Trent Pierce
- Mark Mitchell
- Shawn Phillips
The No. 20 Arkansas Razorbacks are hosting Missouri at Bud Walton Arena.
Coming off a nail-biting 117-115 double-overtime loss to No. 25 Alabama, the Razorbacks (19-7, 9-4 SEC) are eager to bounce back.
They’re tied for second in the SEC with Alabama and Tennessee, trailing first-place Florida by two games.
Arkansas is dealing with some injury setbacks. Karter Knox is sidelined indefinitely following surgery on his left meniscus, having missed three of the last four games. Freshman Isaiah Sealy, who missed the Alabama game with a hip injury, is now available for the Razorbacks.
Missouri (18-8, 8-5) is on the NCAA Tournament bubble and looking for key victories to enhance their resume. Despite good wins against Florida, Kentucky, and Vanderbilt, they’ve suffered disappointing losses to Notre Dame, LSU, and Ole Miss. The Tigers are without guard Annor Boateng for the season due to a leg injury, and Jevon Porter is also out.
As the game unfolds, both teams are looking to make significant strides in their respective campaigns, with Missouri aiming for a statement win and Arkansas striving to solidify their standing in the SEC.