Arkansas Falls to Ole Miss at Home

Arkansas Falls to Ole Miss at Home

Arkansas starts 0-2 in conference play in John Calipari’s first season as head coach, losing 73-66 to Ole Miss in Bud Walton Arena. After jumping out to an early lead, the Hogs were unable to hold off the Rebels and are still searching for their first conference win.

“We’ve got a good team,” head coach John Calipari said. “But everybody’s got to play well. All nine have to give us something. They don’t have to play out of their minds, but they can’t play poorly.”

Game Summary

The Hogs jumped out early and took the lead, with the Rebels failing to make their first shot from the field until 15:18 remained in the first half. Arkansas controlled most of the first half, with their largest lead being nine points. The Rebels clawed their way back, and the game went into halftime tied 33-33. In the first half, Arkansas shot 43.3% from the field, 33.3% from behind the three-point line, and 42.9% from the foul line, while the Rebels shot 40.7% from the field, 33.3% from three-point range, and 63.6% from the free-throw line.

In the second half, Arkansas started off slow, allowing Ole Miss to take and extend their lead. With 14:23 left in the game, the Rebels pushed their lead to 10 points. Although the Hogs began to close the gap, Ole Miss was able to respond and maintain their lead. Ole Miss forward Malik Dia, who averages seven points per game, scored a season-high 21 points, and the Rebels held on to win 73-66.

“I have a lot of faith in this group,” Calipari said. “I’m disappointed, but I’m not discouraged. This league is really good. You’re going to take knocks; it’s just how it is. I was hoping we could get this game, but we didn’t. So now we move on.”

Who Stood Out for Arkansas

Adou Thiero delivered more highlight dunks and was the Hogs’ leading scorer, finishing the game with 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the field. He also added nine rebounds, two assists, two steals, and a block. Thiero’s ability to attack and finish at the rim has been crucial for the Hogs this season, and they will lean on him to continue his impressive performance.

Johnell Davis, who was held scoreless in the loss to Tennessee, was the second leading scorer for the Hogs. He finished the game with 15 points, shooting 4-for-9 from the field, including 3-for-7 from behind the three-point line. Davis also had three rebounds and an assist in 29 minutes.

“He’s [Johnell Davis] getting better and more comfortable,” Calipari said. “I like the fact that he got to the foul line. He’s a really good foul shooter.”

Looking Ahead

The Hogs will need to put this game behind them and prepare for their next game as they host No. 8 Florida in Bud Walton Arena on Saturday, Jan. 11. Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN.