Razorbacks Stay Clear of SEC Cellar, Shoot Well Against Mizzou

Makhi Mitchell has best game as a Razorback to avoid falling below .500 against Tigers

COLUMBIA, Mo. — Makhi Mitchell had enough. On his 24th birthday he tied a career-high 19 points and 14 rebounds en route to a 91-84 Arkansas win over Missouri. Tramon Mark and Keyon Menifield pitched in with 22 and 16 points respectively to improve to 2-6 in SEC play. 

“It's really hard to win on the road, coach Eric Musselman said. “I know that with the fanbases, this is probably a rivalry, or it seems to be. I thought they had a great crowd.”

Both teams proved why they were a combined 1-13 in SEC play coming into the game. The two squads turned the ball over a combined eight times in the first 8 minutes. Already leading 12-10, the Razorbacks went on a 12-2 run led by Mitchell, who used a strong presence inside to finish with 14 points and eight rebounds in the first half. The run was punctuated by a Keyon Menifield triple in the corner.

The Hogs played its most competent half of offensive basketball in a long time, shooting 59% from the floor, including 3-for-4 from deep, and scoring 15 points off nine Mizzou turnovers. The Hogs held a dominant 30-8 advantage in the paint in the first half and 56-30 for the game.  

Arkansas finished the half on another 12-2 run to stretch the halftime lead to 47-28. Former Razorback Connor Vanover led the Tigers in the first half with seven points as Mizzou felt the full wrath of the Razorbacks' suffocating defense.

Mizzou played better in the second half, and Tamar Bates scored 23 of his 29 points in the second half. Neither team inspired much confidence in the final 20 minutes. Missouri entered the bonus with 8:33 left in the second half and used the free-throw line to cut the lead to 13. 

However, the Razorbacks had just enough cushion and good offensive possessions left in the tank to avert disaster. Despite Mizzou's best efforts, the Hogs kept its lead on double-figures in the second half until the final minute. Mitchell's dunk with 6:18 left punctuated the night for himself and the team. 

The Razorbacks will look to win back-to-back SEC games for the first time on the road against LSU 11 a.m. Feb. 3. The game will be broadcast on ESPN2 and fuboTV. 

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