Battle Explodes; Razorbacks Keep Mizzou Winless in SEC Play

Khalif Battle crashes through 40 barrier for first time in over 4 years cruising past Missouri

Daniel Shi | Feb 24, 2024

Battle Explodes; Razorbacks Keep Mizzou Winless in SEC Play /

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Arkansas Razorbacks

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas rode Khalif Battle's 42 points for a 88-73 win over Missouri and secured back-to-back wins in SEC play for the first time this season. It was the first time a Razorbacks' player scored 40+ since Mason Jones against Auburn in 2020 and just the 13th in Hogs' history. Battle also shattered his previous personal career high of 32 set at Temple against South Florida.

'That’s about as great an offensive performance as a player could have," coach Eric Musselman said. "Because when you look at the efficiency of only 15 field goals and to get 42 points, I mean that’s insane. He’s done a great job all year of drawing free throws and he went 14 of 14 from the foul line."

Battle put Arkansas on his back, with the team locked in a one-point game against a winless Missouri team in SEC play, The Temple transfer hit his fourth and fifth three on back-to-back possessions. He showed some flare with a falling away four-point play, all but sealing the game. The shot handed the Razorbacks its first double-digit lead of the day, 65-54 with 6:58 left to play as Mizzou never got within nine again.

In perhaps a fitting opening stanza to the game, the game reached the first timeout without any points being scored by either team 3:26 into the game until Makhi Mitchell was charged with a flagrant foul giving Missouri the first points of the day.

Razorbacks' Khalif Battle against Missouri on Saturday — Arkansas Razorbacks guard Khalif Battle goes inside for part of his 42-point night in an 88-73 win over the Missouri Tigers at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Ark :: Andy Hodges / allHOGS Images

Trevon Brazile checked into the game after missing seven games (knee soreness) with 12:34 left in the first half. Both teams struggled early, with neither reaching 10 points in the first 8 minutes, combining for just five field goals.

As if on cue, both teams simultaneously caught fire, making 12 of the next 14 shots from the floor between the two squads. Nick Honor led the way with three triples. Battle was the first player to reach double figures in a tie game with 7:25 left, 22-22. The Hogs went on a larger 15-2 run. After hitting his first career triple against Texas A&M, Layden Blocker drained a corner three to stretch the Hog lead to eight. Mizzou responded, cutting the lead to just two at intermission, 36-34, capped by a layup at the buzzer by Mizzou's first-half leading scorer Sean East.

"It still hasn’t really sunk in that I had the amount of points that I had," Battle said. "It’s a great feeling, but it’s even better that we got the win. If I would’ve had 40 and we would have lost, no one would have even remembered that."

The two teams traded punches to begin the second half. Battle continued his good showing with the Razorbacks scoring the first five points. Mizzou punched back with a 10-0 run, capped by an East wing triple, forcing Musselman to call timeout with his team down, 44-41.

After Musselman lamented the lack of fouls called and free throw attempts in recent games, Arkansas entered the bonus with 12:46 left in the game. A corner three from an oddly quiet Tramon Mark gave the Hogs the lead again 50-48 as a sparse crowd at Bud Walton sprung to life.

Razorbacks coach Eric Musselman against Missouri — Arkansas Razorbacks coach Eric Musselman makes a point with officials in an 88-73 win over the Missouri Tigers at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Ark :: Andy Hodges / allHOGS Images

It was not meant to be his night though, it was Mark's fellow guard who would do all the scoring down the stretch as the Hogs avoided a loss between two teams who were destined to play on the first day of the SEC Tournament as one of the bottom four teams in the conference coming into the game.

"I think the energy in the locker room is a little different right now," Battle said. "It feels like everybody is on one agenda and that’s just to win."

The Razorbacks now play against Vanderbilt 8 p.m. Wednesday inside Bud Walton. The game will be streamed on SEC Network and fuboTV .