Arkansas leaned on a pair of familiar names and timely runs to defeat Missouri 94-86 in an SEC game Saturday night at Bud Walton Arena.
Arkansas improved to 20-7 overall and 10-4 in the SEC, keeping pace near the top of the league standings with four regular-season games remaining.
Billy Richmond III led the Razorbacks with 21 points, attacking the basket and knocking down key shots when Missouri threatened to close the gap.
Freshman guard Darius Acuff Jr. added 20 points and went 11-of-13 from the free-throw line, steadying the Hogs during critical stretches.
Missouri, now 18-9 and 8-6 in conference play, received 26 points from Mark Mitchell and 22 from Trent Pierce, but couldn’t slow Arkansas’ late push.
The Tigers shot 55.4% from the field and kept things tight early, but Arkansas’ depth and transition scoring proved decisive.
After trailing in the first half, the Razorbacks flipped the momentum with a strong closing stretch before intermission.
Arkansas outscored Missouri 23-9 over the final minutes of the first half to take a 47-41 lead into the break, shifting control of the contest.
First-Half run changes tone
The early minutes didn’t belong to the Razorbacks. Missouri found rhythm on offense and briefly held the upper hand.
But Richmond sparked Arkansas with aggressive drives and confident jumpers, helping erase the deficit.
Acuff also found ways to score despite tough defensive pressure, earning trips to the line and converting.
By halftime, the Hogs had settled into their pace, moving the ball and attacking inside.
Missouri trimmed the margin to 57-56 midway through the second half, putting pressure back on the Razorbacks.
That’s when Arkansas responded again, answering with balanced scoring and improved defense.
The Razorbacks finished the night shooting 52.5% from the field and 44.4% from three-point range.
They also held a 17-2 advantage in fastbreak points, turning defense into offense whenever possible.
Arkansas forced 10 turnovers and converted them into 18 points, giving the home team extra scoring chances.
Ewin’s bounce-back performance
One of the biggest differences from earlier in the week was the play of Malique Ewin.
Ewin bounced back with 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting, adding eight rebounds and going a perfect 4-for-4 at the free-throw line.
He grabbed three offensive rebounds and recorded a key block in the second half.
His energy around the rim helped Arkansas maintain its edge inside.
Meleek Thomas contributed 14 points and eight rebounds, adding production on both ends of the court.
Trevon Brazile chipped in 12 points and six assists, helping the Razorbacks keep the offense flowing.
Arkansas also won the rebounding battle, limiting Missouri’s second-chance opportunities.
Late in the game, the Hogs extended the lead to 91-77, putting the result out of reach.
From there, Arkansas managed the clock and closed out the win at home.
Staying in SEC race
With the victory, Arkansas strengthened its standing in the conference race.
The Razorbacks have now shown a pattern of responding well after losses, maintaining focus during tight stretches of the schedule.
Missouri’s strong shooting kept the game competitive, but Arkansas’ balance made the difference.
Four players reached double figures, and contributions came from both starters and the bench.
The Hogs’ ability to adjust after a slow start stood out as a key factor.
Defensively, Arkansas tightened up in key possessions, forcing tough shots down the stretch.
Offensively, patience and ball movement created open looks inside and out.
As the regular season winds down, each game carries added weight in the SEC standings as teams start jockeying for postseason position
Arkansas returns to action this week with another important SEC matchup, looking to build on the balanced effort against Missouri.
