FAYETTEVILLE – Ricky Council IV scored 21 second-half points to lead #13 Arkansas (12-2, 1-1 SEC) to a come-from-behind win over #20/21 Missouri (12-2, 1-1 SEC) in the Razorbacks’ SEC home opener Wednesday night at Bud Walton Arena.
Council finished with 25 points, making 11-of-13 at the line with a season-best seven rebounds, while Joseph Pinion provided a big spark off the bench, playing a career-high 27:28 and scoring a career-high 13 points. Kamani Johnson was also a key factor in the win, getting eight rebounds and drawing six fouls.
Arkansas erased its largest deficit of the season (17 points; 25-8 with 9:31 in the first half) thanks in part to an 8-0 run to end the first half and a 10-4 run to start the second. Pinion hit a triple late in the first half and another to cap the 10-4 second-half start.
Later in the second half, Arkansas used a 9-0 run to take its first lead (43-42) and extend the advantage to 46-42. In the run, Arkansas had back-to-back fastbreak possessions with a Council dunk and Davonte Davis layup while Pinion drained a 3-pointer.
Missouri bounced back to tie the game at 46 before Council drained a 3-pointer to put the Hogs up 49-46, a lead Arkansas would not relinquish. Overall, Arkansas went on a 7-0 run and was able to hold off the Tigers the rest of the way.
Missouri made a final push, getting to within three (66-63) but Anthony Black hit his only 3-pointer of the game to put the Hogs up six with 3:11 left. Both teams struggled to score down the stretch, but Council was 5-of-6 at the line inside the final 25 seconds to secure the win.
Davis, who led the team with a +11, finished with 10 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals. Jordan Walsh and Makhi Mitchell added seven rebounds and Black had five assists.
Arkansas hits the road to face #22/20 Auburn on Saturday (Jan. 7). Tipoff is set for 7:30 pm (CT) and the game will be televised on SEC Network.
