Despite a double-digit hole, the Missouri State Bears had a lead over Arkansas in the second half Thursday, but it wasn’t enough a 79-75 loss to the Razorbacks in Fayetteville.
Arkansas led the Bears 44-31 at the half, thanks to a 7-0 run following a 16-16 tie early on. But MSU opened the second half with an 8-0 run to get back into the game. They continued to chip away at the lead and even led 66-65 with 3:57 to go in the game. The lead didn’t last long though, as Arkansas soon regained the lead and never relinquished it. Ronnie Brewer scored eight points for Arkansas in the final eight minutes and led all scorers with 19.
Blake Ahearn led the Bears with 16 points, Tyler Chaney had 14 and Sky Frazier scored 13—he also pulled down nine rebounds.
Three-point shots have been Missouri State’s bread and butter this season, but the trey failed them on Thursday—the Bears hit just 5-of-21 from behind the arc. Coming into the game MSU drilled 50 percent of their three-pointers this season, which was tops in the nation.
Branson native Steven Hill scored just three points for Arkansas, but his effectiveness on Thursday had more to do with preventing shots then making them. Hill slapped away six MSU shots, while teammate Dontell Jefferson blocked four.
With the loss, the Bears dropped to 6-1 on the season, while the Razorbacks improved to 7-2.
