SEC Recap: Arkansas, Kentucky Fall Back to Pack in SEC

Alabama, Tennessee put rest of league on notice while Mike White comes up short in homecoming

allHOGS Staff | Jan 8, 2023

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Arkansas Razorbacks

Even though it was only the third game of the season for most SEC teams, it was a day that had huge implications with multiple conference championship contenders squaring off.

Here's how it all shook out.

No. 22 AUBURN 72, No. 13 ARKANSAS 59

AUBURN, Ala. – The second Auburn came out in a zone defense the game was over.

Missouri proved the Razorbacks doesn't have the shooters to combat the zone and Bruce Pearl said once he saw that, even though his team hadn't played zone all year, he knew that maintaining the Tigers' home winning streak would be much easier if they did.

Auburn dominated most of the way as Arkansas struggled from the free throw line and behind the arc. Arkansas was a miserable 2-for-16 from three and 19-of-32 from the free throw line.

Wendell Green, Jr. came out hot in a physical game with 19 points and Alan Flanigan continued the decades long tradition of players from Arkansas having big games against the Razorbacks with 18.

Anthony Black tried to will the Hogs back into the game with a lay-up to cut it to single digits with 1:27 left to play, but Auburn closed with a 5-1 spurt to get back on track.

AUBURN 12-3, 2-1 | ARKANSAS 12-3, 1-2

No. 7 Alabama 78, Kentucky 52

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Nick Saban was in attendance for what was supposed to be a huge SEC showdown between Alabama and Kentucky down in Tuscaloosa.

It was exactly that for the better part of the first half, but Nate Oats had the Tide shut down Oscar Tshiebwe and let is length and athleticism take over in the second half.

A Savhir Wheeler jumper with five minutes left in the first half cut the deficit to 20-19, but Kentucky never managed to capture the lead for a single second.

The Wildcats' Antonio Reeves led all scorers with 20, while freshman forward Brandon Miller led Alabama with 19. Tshiebwe was held to four points and six rebounds.

ALABAMA 13-2, 3-0 | KENTUCKY 10-5, 1-2

No. 8 Tennessee 85, South Carolina 42

COLUMBIA, S.C – Tennessee jumped out to a 15-3 lead and never trailed as this one was over almost as soon as it started.

The Volunteers' starters shot 50 percent from three while the Tennessee bench chipped in 35 points.

Junior guard Meechie Johnson was the lone bright spot for South Carolina as the only Gamecock in double figures. Despite the hot shooting from behind the arc, the game was determined down low.

South Carolina only mustered 21 rebounds while Tennessee dominated the paint with nearly 50 boards.

TENNESSEE 13-2, 3-0 | SOUTH CAROLINA 7-8, 0-2

No. 20 Missouri 85, Vanderbilt 82

COLUMBIA, Mo. – In a game that was nip and tuck all the way through, Missouri needed 51 second half points and a pair of free throws from DeAndre Gholston in the final four seconds to avoid a bug upset at home.

A lay-up by Kobe Brown put Missouri up by 11 with just under 13 minutes left to play, but Vanderbilt kept calm and battled back. Four minutes later, an old-fashioned three-point play by Jordan Wright put the Commodores by one, 57-56.

A jumper by Ezra Manjon tied it at 73-73 before everyone on the floor for Missouri chipped in over the final three minutes to build a little breathing room and hold on in down the stretch.

The Commodores had three players in double digits off the bench led by 16 from Liam Robbins. Missouri had four players with 16+ points, including a pair of 18-point performances by Brown and Gholston.

MISSOURI 13-2, 2-1 | VANDERBILT 8-7, 1-1

Florida 85, Georgia 75

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – There was a great deal of hype surrounding this game. Not only was it former Florida coach Mike White's homecoming, but Georgia was coming off an upset of Auburn.

Terry Roberts tried to will Georgia to a win with 25 points as the Bulldogs stunned Florida with a quick 23-10 start.

However, a Kawacie Reeves jumper with 33 seconds left in the half sent the Gators into the locker room with the lead.

Grad transfer Kyle Roberts led Florida with 18 points, but it was Riley Kugel who put the nail in the coffin for the Gators with a pair of dunks that slammed the door shut on a Georgia comeback in the closing minute.

Colin Caselton, who will turn 23 shortly after the conclusion of the NCAA tournament, had seven blocks and eight rebounds to go with 12 points to help Florida overcome a cold start to come away with the win.

FLORIDA 8-7, 1-2 | GEORGIA 11-4, 1-1

Mississippi State 64, Ole Miss 54

STARKVILLE, Miss. – It was a rivalry game, but more importantly for Mississippi State, it was a chance for the Bulldogs to get back on their feet after reality set in following a pair of losses to open SEC play.

Ole Miss led for the first five minutes, but once Mississippi State got the lead the Bulldogs found a way to go on a mini-run each time the Rebels tried to climb back on top in the first half.

That trend looked like it would continue in the second half after Tolu Smith answered a Matthew Murrel jumper to tie it 27-27 with a lay-up coupled with a free throw. However, Ole Miss responded with an 11-1 run over the next six minutes to seemingly take control of the game after building a 38-31 lead supported by tough defense.

Unfortunately for the Rebels, Eric Reed broke the scoring drought with a three while posting all nine of his points in the final 12 minutes to lead Mississippi State back.

Smith and Will McNair, Jr. led the Bulldogs with 12 and 13 points respectively.

Murrell finished with 19 in leading the Rebels.

MISSISSIPPI STATE 12-3, 1-2 | OLE MISS 8-7, 1-3

Texas A&M 69, LSU 56

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The Aggies only got a single point from their bench, but didn't need it as the starters dominated LSU to stay undefeated in SEC play.

Four Texas A&M starters finished with at least 14 points and junior forward Julius Miller narrowly missed a double-double with 17 points and nine rebounds..

LSU was looking to find the moxie it showed against Arkansas to open SEC play, but struggled to find a rhythm on offense early on, allowing the Aggies to build a big lead.

Dexter Dennis, who also finished with 17 points, hit a lay-up with two minutes in the first half made it 32-17 in favor of Texas A&M and there just weren't enough halftime adjustments that Tigers' coach Matt McMahon could make to make this one competitive.

Sophomore guard Adam Miller led LSU with 16.

TEXAS A&M 10-5, 2-0 | LSU 12-3, 1-2