Razorback bench absent in 77-67 loss at Missouri
COLUMBIA, Mo. — The Arkansas Razorbacks surrendered an early lead on the road against the Missouri Tigers Saturday and were never able to regain control in a 77-67 loss to close the regular season.
Arkansas (21-10, 10-8 Southeastern Conference) had the chance to guarantee a top-four seed and a double-bye in this week’s SEC Tournament in St. Louis with a win. The Tigers (2011, 10-8) announced earlier in the day highly-touted freshman Michael Porter, Jr., would not play after returning to the team from an injury in the season-opener.
Two free throws by sophomore guard C.J. Jones gave the visitors the early edge at 14-7 with 13:39 on the clock in the first half. The Tigers scored 11 unanswered before Arkansas senior Jaylen Barford hit a jumper to stem the tide.
Missouri steadily built a cushion throughout the first half. Jeremiah Tilmon’s free throws with
39 seconds remaining in the first half put the Tigers ahead 39-29. A pair of free throws by Razorback senior Daryl Macon had the Hogs down 39-31 at the break.
Arkansas battled back into the game in the second half, but was never able to take a lead. Senior Anton Beard hit a layup at the 12:28 mark to make the score 51-51.
Cuonzo Martin’s Tigers seized control with a 7-0 run. A
3-pointer by Jontay Porter put the hosts up by 12 points, their biggest lead of the game, at 67-55.
Macon hit a layup with 2:30 on the clock to make it a 69-63 score before Missouri stretched the league back out to 74-63 after Kassius Robertson made two free throws and Jordan Barnett hit a free throw.
Barford, Beard, Macon and freshman center Daniel Gafford combined for 50 of Arkansas 67 points. Gafford led the Hogs with
16 points. Macon had 12 points and a team-high six assists, while Barford and Beard each had 11 points and tied for the team-lead with five rebounds.
Barnett, Porter, Tilmon and Robertson combined for 69 of the Tigers’ points with 19, 19, 17 and 14, respectively. Arkansas watched Tuesday as Auburn made 31 of 34 attempts at Bud Walton Arena. Missouri sank 27 of 33, 81.8 percent, Saturday.
Arkansas shot 25-for-56, 44.6 percent, from field to Missouri’s 20-for-48, 41.7, but the Tigers were able to make 10 of 24
3-point attempts for 41.7 percent. The Hogs made just 5 of 15 from distance for 33.3 percent.
Arkansas finished as the No.
6 seed and will play Thursday at approximately 8:30 p.m.