Mizzou basketball buried by three-pointers in streak-snapping loss to Arkansas
The Missouri Tigers couldn’t miss to start the game, but the Arkansas Razorbacks hit three straight three-pointers late in a 78-68 win Saturday.
The Tigers (13-14, 5-9) continued their struggles away from Columbia, falling to 0-7 in Southeastern Conference road games. The Hogs (17-10, 5-9) snapped a five-game losing streak and pulled even with Mizzou in the SEC standings.
In what’s been a theme, Mizzou cut the Hogs’ lead to two points multiple times in the second half at Bud Walton Arena. But the Tigers couldn’t get over the hump, a major struggle this season — especially on the road.
When the Tigers cut it to a one-possession game late, the Hogs seized their chance, hitting some decisive threes. Arkansas shot 12 for 25 from behind the arc while Mizzou shot just 4 for 21.
“We have to do a better job making them work for baskets,” Mizzou coach Cuonzo Martin said.
The Tigers made their first five shots and opened a 13-point lead midway through the first half. But the Hogs held the Tigers scoreless for a stretch of 4 minutes, 56 seconds in the first half. Arkansas also used two 10-0 runs to take a slim halftime lead.
The Razorbacks wer hot out of the break, stretching it to a 10-point lead at one point. But Mizzou hung around, cutting it to a two-point deficit multiple times.
Kobe Brown scored a career-high 17 points for the Tigers. Guards Dru Smith and Xavier Pinson each had 15.
Mizzou was without Mark Smith (lower back) and Evan Yerkes (illness) for the road game. The Tigers did have Jeremiah Tilmon (foot) available, though he didn’t see the court on Saturday.
Arkansas guard Isaiah Joe scored 21 points in his return from knee surgery.
Mizzou next travels to play Vanderbilt at 8 p.m. Wednesday in Nashville.
“Road environment, it becomes about mental focus, the concentration, the attention to detail,” Martin said. “We had a lot of breakdowns. I thought the energy was there. It’s hard when you’re on the road.”
This story was originally published February 22, 2020 at 2:11 PM.