The Hogs finished off a thrilling game by defeating No. 25 Mississippi State 93-92 in Bud Walton Arena. Big performances from DJ Wagner and Jonas Aidoo helped lift the Hogs over the Bulldogs. This win puts the Razorbacks in a great position to earn a bid to the NCAA Tournament.
“A heck of a basketball game,” head coach John Calipari said. “Glad we won it. Love how we fought, and I told them I’ve done this a long time, and this may be the most rewarding season for me.”
Game Summary
Arkansas took the first lead of the game from free throws by Zvonimir Ivisic. The Bulldogs battled with the Hogs in a tight first half that included 10 lead changes. Mississippi State held the lead for most of the first half, but Arkansas came back and took the lead with 5:02 remaining. The Razorbacks shot the ball extremely well from the floor. They knocked down 50% of their shots in the first half, while Mississippi State struggled comparatively, shooting 36.1% from the field. Although the percentages heavily favored the Hogs, they only went into halftime with a 45-44 lead.
In the second half, the Hogs came out hot and went on a 10-0 run in the first three minutes of play. Arkansas took a 70-54 lead on a three-pointer from Wagner with 11:41 left in the game. The Bulldogs did not back down and slowly clawed their way back. With 3:14 remaining, Mississippi State took an 84-83 lead, but Wagner stepped up big, scoring seven points in the final three minutes. Aidoo hit the go-ahead free throw for the Hogs with 11 seconds remaining. After that a defensive stand from Billy Richmond III on the other end sealed the 93-92 win for Arkansas.
“Look, they’re [Mississippi State] really good,” Calipari said. “They missed a shot, and we rebounded, and we win the game, but they’re good.”
Who Stood Out for the Hogs
Jonas Aidoo put together his best performance in an Arkansas uniform. He scored 21 points, going 8 of 11 from the floor and 5 of 10 from the free-throw line in 32 minutes. With the final free throw being the game-winner. He also grabbed 10 rebounds, had three blocks, and four assists. In a game where Arkansas needed his production, he stepped up in a big way.
DJ Wagner has been one of the most consistent players this season for the Hogs and has delivered in big moments, including this game. Wagner had 24 points, the most in the game, on 7 of 9 shooting, including 3 of 4 from three-point range. He also facilitated the offense with five assists. Wagner has played an important role this season, especially after the injury to Boogie Fland, and has stepped up in crucial moments.
Trevon Brazile, who has seen increased playing time since Adou Thiero’s injury. He got into foul trouble early and did not play much of the first half. In the second half, he came alive and finished the game with another double-double. Brazile ended the game with 11 points on 4 of 7 shooting and 3 of 5 from three-point range.
Billy Richmond III has been a sparkplug off the bench all season for the Hogs. His energy and effort stand out every time he enters a game, and against Mississippi State, he made a big impact. He finished with 10 points on 3 of 6 shooting and a team-high six assists. His defense sealed the game for Arkansas. Richmond had two blocks in the game, with the biggest one coming on the Bulldogs’ final possession to secure the win.
“They’re a bunch of good kids that struggled early and in their own individual way, and then collectively we struggled early,” Calipari said. “Yet because they are good people, they stuck together.”
Looking Ahead
With the regular season over, the Hogs will now look ahead to the SEC Tournament, where they will be the No. 9 seed and will face the No. 16 seed South Carolina on March 12, with tipoff set for noon CST.