Arkansas Shakes Off a Slow Start and Steadies Past Missouri

No. 20 Arkansas Razorbacks shook off a sluggish, disjointed start on Saturday to protect home court and secure a 94–86 win over the Missouri Tigers. The Razorbacks (20–7, 10–4 SEC) placed five players in double figures, but the victory was defined by balance, with all seven rotation players contributing to a complete team performance that held off a determined Missouri side (18–9, 8–6 SEC).

The opening stretch was uneven for Arkansas. The Razorbacks struggled to find rhythm, energy, and execution, while Missouri seized the initiative. The Tigers played with pace and confidence as the Hogs looked flat, building a 32–24 lead that quieted the home crowd. The tone began to shift when Billy Richmond injected energy into the game, lifting his teammates and igniting the atmosphere inside Bud Walton Arena, setting the stage for Arkansas to regain its footing and control the night.

A Slow Start, Then a Spark

Missouri won the opening tip and jumped out early, turning Arkansas turnovers into a quick 9–4 advantage. The pace was chaotic, with rushed possessions and quick scores on both ends. Arkansas stayed within reach through effort plays, including a Thomas putback and a Pringle alley oop, and the game was tied 11–11 at the first media timeout.

After the break, Arkansas Razorbacks briefly took the lead on a backdoor cut from Acuff, but Missouri responded behind Mitchell’s inside scoring to go back in front, 16–15. Richmond provided a spark with a block, a steal, and a fastbreak dunk, and after trading three-pointers, Arkansas edged ahead 20–19.

Missouri then seized control of the middle of the half. Arkansas went cold for nearly four minutes, allowing the Tigers to build their largest lead at 30–22. Ewin finally stopped the drought with a hook shot, but Missouri answered with a putback dunk to maintain momentum.

From there, the tone changed. Richmond energized the crowd with a steal and a circus layup, Ewin added an and-one, and Arkansas began chipping away. After a Brazile corner three gave the Razorbacks the lead, the defense tightened, forcing a shot-clock violation. A Wagner dunk and a late corner three capped a 13–2 run.

Arkansas closed the half on a 23–9 surge and went into the break leading 47–41, flipping a shaky opening stretch into clear momentum before halftime.

Momentum Swings in the Second Half

Richmond was called for a flagrant foul at the buzzer before halftime, sending Crews to the line and giving Missouri possession to open the second half. Crews split the free throws, cutting the lead to 47–42.

The teams traded early baskets before Brazile buried a three to make it 55–48. Stone answered from deep to pull Missouri within 55–51. Out of the timeout, the Tigers surged on an 8–2 run to close within one, but Richmond steadied Arkansas with a clutch corner three to push the lead back to 60–56.

Momentum swung again as Richmond took over. After a Mitchell turnover, he finished a layup, then drilled another three following a Thomas block, forcing a Missouri timeout with Arkansas ahead 65–58. He stayed aggressive, scoring inside off a Thomas steal and then cleaning up his own miss for another basket, stretching the lead to 71–62, the Razorbacks’ largest of the night. Richmond had 12 of Arkansas’s last 14 points in that stretch.

Missouri answered out of the timeout, and the teams traded scores down the floor. After Brazile’s free throws, Robinson hit a three, and Thomas and Pierce exchanged triples. Arkansas carried a 76–70 lead into the under-8 timeout, holding control as the game tightened.

Late Control and Key Sequences

After a parade of free throws, Arkansas held a 78–73 lead. Calipari challenged a foul on Brazile, his fourth, and replay showed Mitchell hooking and holding Brazile to create the contact. The call stood despite the review.

Play resumed with misses on both ends before Thomas converted a spinning layup. Richmond then blocked Mitchell at the rim, igniting a break where Acuff found Thomas for a three that pushed the lead to 83–73 and forced a Missouri timeout.

Missouri answered with a Pierce layup, but Arkansas responded quickly. After an Ewin miss, Acuff rebounded and fired ahead to Richmond for a two-hand dunk. Phillips countered with a dunk of his own, then Acuff finished an acrobatic layup and forced a turnover by knocking the ball away from Barrett. Arkansas led 87–77 at the under-4 timeout.

On the next sequence, Richmond went down after contact to the face, briefly exiting as play stopped. He returned moments later.

Arkansas kept control. Acuff fed Brazile for an up-and-under, and after a Robinson miss, Ewin raced ahead for a fastbreak dunk on a pass from Thomas to make it 91–77.

Missouri made one final push as Pierce converted an and-one while Brazile fouled out, trimming the margin to 91–80. Free throws followed on both ends in the final minute. Richmond left the floor again after a collision, but the Razorbacks stayed composed, ran down the clock, and closed out a 94–86 win.

Performances and Balance

Richmond led the Razorbacks with 21 points on 9 of 14 shooting, hit 2 of 3 from three point range, and posted a complete stat line with four assists, two blocks, and a team high three steals in 34 minutes.

The second-year Razorback consistently changed the tone of the game. As Arkansas faltered late in the first half, Richmond sparked the surge that fueled a 23–9 run and sent the Razorbacks into halftime with a 47–41 lead.

Freshman guard Darius Acuff Jr. followed his 49-point outing Wednesday with another strong performance, scoring 20 points on 4-of-11 shooting and 11-of-13 from the line. He added five assists, four rebounds, and a steal, finishing with no turnovers in 35 minutes.

Malique Ewin added 16 points, eight rebounds, and a block. Thomas contributed 14 points, eight boards, two assists, a block, and a steal. Trevon Brazile posted 12 points, five rebounds, a career-high six assists, and a block.

For Missouri, Mark Mitchell led the way with 26 points, four rebounds, eight assists, and a steal. Trent Pierce chipped in 22 points, four rebounds, and a steal.

Arkansas shot 52.5 percent from the field and 44.4 percent from three, while Missouri finished at 55.4 percent overall and 33.3 percent from beyond the arc. The Razorbacks forced 10 turnovers while committing just five, turning those mistakes into an 18–6 edge in points off turnovers. Arkansas also controlled the open floor, outscoring Missouri 17–2 in fastbreak points.

What’s Next

Richmond and the Razorbacks now get a few days to reset before returning to Bud Walton Arena on Wednesday night to face Texas A&M. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. CST, with the game airing on ESPN2.