Things got a little tense in the first half, but the Razorbacks pulled off a late surge to secure a lead they wouldn't give up, finishing with a 94-86 victory over Missouri. This win marks Arkansas' second consecutive 20-win season and boosts their SEC record to 10-4.
Billy Richmond III was on fire, leading the Razorbacks with 21 points. This marks his third straight game scoring over 20 points.
He's been on a shooting spree lately, significantly increasing his field goal attempts. Darius Acuff, despite not being at full strength, chipped in with 20 points, thanks largely to 11 successful free throws.
Malique Ewin also had a standout performance, bouncing back with 16 points and eight rebounds over 31 minutes. While the Razorbacks struggled to contain Mizzou's star Mark Mitchell, who dropped 26 points, they did a solid job limiting the rest of the Tigers' lineup.
This victory adds to Arkansas' dominance over Missouri, marking their ninth win in the last 11 matchups. The Tigers haven't beaten the Razorbacks in Fayetteville since 2021.
Diving into the stats, Missouri tried to slow the game down, taking their time with each possession. They only had eight transition opportunities but were effective in the halfcourt. Arkansas, however, capitalized on turnovers and fastbreaks, outscoring Missouri by 12 in points off turnovers and by 15 in fastbreak points.
Scoring 94 points in just 67 possessions showcases Arkansas' offensive prowess. They're firing on all cylinders right now, a trend that's been building over the past few weeks.
Interestingly, neither team made a midrange jumper. Missouri didn't even attempt one, while Arkansas had a few tries.
Both teams focused their shots in the paint, but Missouri managed a slightly higher effective field goal percentage and true shooting percentage. As predicted, Arkansas' activity on the glass was crucial, winning the offensive rebounding battle and taking more shots overall.
Missouri isn't known for forcing turnovers, and Arkansas took full advantage, maintaining the nation's lowest turnover rate at 12.3% of possessions this season. They're also leading in Scoring Rate and Points off Turnovers Allowed.
Even though Acuff wasn't at his best, he still managed 20 points and five assists without a single turnover. The Razorbacks' key run in the first half came with Acuff resting, featuring strong play from DJ Wagner and Meleek Thomas. Richmond led the team with a +19 in actual plus/minus and a +7.5 in box plus-minus.
Nick Pringle's limited playtime and minus-11 rating in 12 minutes might signal a shift in Arkansas' lineup. Coach John Calipari mentioned Pringle expressed willingness for Malique Ewin to start, a change that seems increasingly likely.
For Missouri, Mark Mitchell lived up to expectations, scoring 26 points and dishing out eight assists. Arkansas struggled against his skillset, particularly due to Trevon Brazile's ongoing challenges with on-ball defense.
Missouri's Trent Burns, standing at 7’5”, provided a spark off the bench for the second game in a row. Despite not filling the stat sheet, his presence was felt as Missouri outscored Arkansas 33-22 during his 12 minutes on the court. If I were Dennis Gates, I'd consider increasing his minutes to close out the season and prepare for next year.
Looking ahead, Arkansas faces Texas A&M next. The Aggies have bounced back from a midseason slump, winning their last two games and trailing Arkansas by just two games in the SEC standings. Expect a high-paced, action-packed matchup.
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