State's furious comeback attempt falls short in heartbreaking 93-92 loss at Arkansas

Mississippi State’s furious comeback attempt fell short on Saturday at Arkansas and the Bulldogs closed the regular season with a disappointing 93-92 loss. Arkansas’ Jonas Aidoo hit the game-winning free throw with 11 seconds remaining and State misfired on a couple of shots in the paint in the final seconds.

With the loss, the Bulldogs dropped to 20-11 overall and 8-10 in the SEC. Arkansas improved to 19-12 overall and 8-10 in the SEC. The Bulldogs had missed shots by Riley Kugel and RJ Melendez in the lane in the final seconds but neither would fall.

“We ran what we drew up and it has multiple options,” said Mississippi State head coach Chris Jans of the last possession. “We had two shots on the rim and that’s all you can ask for. Pretty close range in a 1 point game. The worst part about it is the angle I had, when RJ Melendez shot the ball I would have told you that ball was going in when it left his hands. It was the perfect angle and he used the backboard. That was a pretty emotional point and I feel awful for our team and our kids.”

Claudell Harris led State with 18 points, led by four 3 pointers, while Josh Hubbard had 17 points. KeShawn Murphy and Cameron Matthews each had 13 points for State while Kugel had 12 points, all coming in the second half and Melendez had 10.

D.J. Wagner paced Arkansas with 24 points while Aidoo had 21 points and 10 boards. Johnnell Davis had 15 for Arkansas while Trevon Brazile and Billy Richmond added 11 and 10 points, respectively.

Leading by one at halftime, Arkansas stormed out of the second-half gates with a 10-0 run and built as much as a 16 point lead early in the half. Mississippi State continued to chip away at the deficit and took an 84-83 lead after Kugel 3 pointer that capped a 12-0 run with 2:43 left.

Wagner and Hubbard swapped 3 pointers in the final minute of action before setting up the Razorbacks’ victory thanks to Aidoo’s free throw for the final margin.

“Certainly, you got to play better earlier and that’s what we just talked about,” Jans noted. “We’re just not consistent enough for long stretches. I know it is the end of the year and you want to be playing your best. No excuses at all and we understand that.”

For the game, State shot 44% from the field and made 12 of 32 beyond the 3 point arc. The Bulldogs were 16 of 21 from the foul line and had just two turnovers while outscoring Arkansas 19-4 on points off turnovers. Arkansas shot 55% from the floor and made 9 of 21 from 3 point range. Arkansas was 22 of 27 at the line, had 10 turnovers and outrebounded State 41-29.

The first half featured 19 combined fouls and 27 free throw attempts, and both teams took their share of leads. The Bulldogs held an 18-12 advantage after a trio of Hubbard free throws at the 13:20 mark in the half and continued to hold a 31-27 lead later in the half. But Arkansas answered with an 8-0 spurt to take a 35-31 advantage.

State managed to regain the lead late in the half following a Harris 3 pointer before Arkansas took a 45-44 halftime advantage.

State shot just 36% from the field in the opening half and made 5 of 16 beyond the 3 point arc. The Bulldogs were 13 of 14 at the foul line, had just one turnover and outscored Arkansas 14-2 in points off turnovers. Arkansas shot 50% in the first half, 3 of 11 from 3 point range and 12 of 13 at the charity stripe. The Razorbacks had six turnovers and outrebounded State 23-15.

Up next

Mississippi State in the SEC Tournament on Wednesday – The Bulldogs begin a new part of the season Wednesday in Nashville, Tenn., in the first round of the SEC tournament. State will be the 10th seed and play in the 6 p.m. game on Wednesday against LSU.

“I know today’s result isn’t what anyone wants,” added Jans. “I’ve got continued confidence in this group, maybe more after this game than I did going into the game just because of how they competed when it was go time. We will have a bounce in our step and we’ve won games down there every year (in the SEC Tournament). We will regroup and be ready to go on Wednesday.”