Hogs’ Eric Musselman quickly getting ready for Vanderbilt game

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas coach Eric Musselman has no plans to celebrate Khalif Battles’ 42-point effort in an 88-73 win Saturday afternoon for even 24 minutes. He sounded ready to get home with the family out of town for his daughter’s dance event in Branson, Mo., to he’s starting to get ready for Vanderbilt. That’s just the way he is.

“I watched the Florida game just now before I came in here and before I did radio,” he said after the game. “I’ve got a lot of time with no distractions. Dogs are at Hounds Lounge. Danyelle and Mariah are in Branson. So zero distractions for me not to be ready to rock and roll on Tuesday.” None of that was particularly surprising.

Make no doubt, he recognized Battle shattering his previous career high by scoring 42 points for a season sweep over the Tigers and their career scoring night by Sean East, but he’s got the Razorbacks on a roll now with two straight wins. It could easily be three, but he’s not going to incur any SEC fines talking about how officials’ calls. The Commodores are coming up.

Battle topped his 32-point best mark with a pair of free throws with 7:27 left and followed it with a four-point play. He finished shooting 11 of 15 from the field, including 6 of 10 from beyond the arc, and 14 of 14 from the free-throw line.

“This is the best because it’s on the big stage,” Battle said. “This is the SEC and no game is easy. To be able to put 42 up and get the win and get the home crowd — there’s nothing better than this right here.”

East reached his career-best mark without attempting a 3-pointer, hitting 9 of 14 from the field and 15 of 16 from the free-throw line, easily topping his previous career mark of 25 set last week against Ole Miss.

Connor Vanover dunked with 11:04 left to pull Missouri even at 50-50 and Nick Honor hit two free throws a minute later keep the Tigers within one, 53-52, but Battle hit back-to-back 3-pointers to start a 14-5 run to give the Razorbacks a 67-57 lead with more than five minutes left.

Arkansas (14-13, 5-9 SEC) was 25 of 52 from the field (48.1%), including 10 of 25 (40%) from distance. Makhi Mitchell had 13 points, six rebounds and three assists and Tramon Mark added 10 points, seven boards and three assists.

Honor finished with 14 points for Missouri and Tamar Bates went 6-for-6 from the free throw line to add 11.

Missouri (8-19) remains winless through 14 SEC games, has lost eight of its last 10 games with the Razorbacks and is 2-10 in games played in Fayetteville.

Arkansas plays host to Vanderbilt on Tuesday at 8 p.m. on the SEC Network. You can also hear the game at HitThatLine and on ESPN Arkansas 99.5 in Fayetteville, 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs and 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home.