Thursday night was an excellent change for the Arkansas basketball team to get back in the NCAA Tournament discussion.
After Rashad Madden’s drive at the buzzer didn’t drop, the road to the dance became that much harder.
Arkansas lost to Missouri, 86-85, falling to 4-7 in the SEC.
Mardracus Wade put the Hogs up with one minute to go with a basket in the lane. After a missed Missouri free throw, Arkansas had a chance to ice the game on the ensuing possession, but Madden stepped out of bounds to give the Tigers the ball back. Jabari Brown then buried a basket to give Missouri a one-point lead with 12 seconds left.
The second half saw multiple runs. Arkansas battled back from two 11-point deficits and used a 10-nothing run to take the lead in the final minute, 85-84.
Madden led the Hogs with 17 points. Alandise Harris added 16.
Arkansas’ woes away from home continue, now just 1-5 on the road and 3-23 in three seasons under Mike Anderson.
Missouri fell one shy of a school record consecutive made free throws in a single game, hitting 21-of-21 from the charity stripe before the first miss of the night. The Tigers’ three guards Jordan Clarkson, Jabari Brown and and Earnest Ross accounted for 67 of Missouri’s 86 points.