Razorbacks fall in final road game

COLUMBIA, Mo. –  Sophomore BJ Young scored 27 points for the University of Arkansas basketball team on Tuesday night against the Missouri Tigers, but an inspired performance on senior night led the home squad to a 93-63 victory at Mizzou Arena.

Arkansas (18-12, 9-8 SEC) also got nine-point games from juniors Marshawn Powell and Coty Clarke while Missouri (22-7, 11-5 SEC) picked up a game high 24 points from senior Laurence Bowers.

“First of all congratulations to Missouri,” Arkansas head coach Mike Anderson said.  “It was senior night and emotions were sky high.  It was a great atmosphere and you have to give them credit.”

The Razorbacks struggled to rebound the basketball on Tuesday night as the Tigers held a huge advantage on the glass.  The rebounding differential allowed Missouri to score 14 second chance points and 42 points in the paint.

“You can’t get beat on the glass like we did and win big games,” Anderson said.

After the Tigers went up 5-0 to start the game, the Razorbacks’ Young went on a 5-0 run of his own to tie the game 5-5. After several turnovers by the Tigers, Mardracus Wade got a hold of the ball and sent it to Clarke who knocked down a long jumper to take a 7-5 lead. From there, Missouri would begin to get hit their groove as they went on a 25-8 run to give them a 30-15 lead. Arkansas would catch a few breakaways off Missouri turnovers, but were unable to get the offense clicking in the first. Arkansas would finish the first-half with a 48-22 deficit.

In the second half, Young got things started with a long three to hush the Missouri crowd. Powell chipped in a quick layup and Young added two to give Arkansas a 7-0 run to start the half. From there it would seem as though the Tigers could not miss as they extended their lead over the Razorbacks. Arkansas would fall to the Tigers 93-63.

For the game, Missouri sank an astounding 58 percent from the field were constantly at the free throw line, for a 40-13 edge.  The Razorbacks were able to force Missouri into 15 turnovers which converted into 12 Arkansas points, but the shooting edge and rebounding proved to be the ultimate difference in the contest.

Arkansas returns to Bud Walton Arena to face the Texas A&M Aggies in the last regular season game of the season. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. on ESPNU