Arkansas Sports 360 - ArkansasSports360.com

3/2/2011 at 11:55pm

Image by Mark Wagner

Rotnei Clarke scored 24 points for the Razorbacks, including 4 of 9 from the 3-point line. Arkansas shot 11 of 22 from behind the arc, but it wasn't enough.

Why Arkansas Lost
It’s simple, really. As Arkansas lost its grip on the basketball, the Razorbacks lost their grip on the game and a No. 2 seed in the SEC Tournament. After halftime the team committed 10 of its 12 turnovers. Those gifts set up 26 Mississippi State points, wiping out an otherwise good night for the Razorbacks (18-11, 7-8). Arkansas’ carelessness with the ball rendered an 11 of 22 performance from behind the 3-point line meaningless.

Player Of The Game
Keeping Mississippi State’s Ravern Johnson from a big night was something the Razorbacks knew they needed. They didn’t do it. Not even close.

Johnson finished with 25 points in 36 minutes. He shot 5 of 8 from the 3-point line, including a shot that gave the Bulldogs a 66-60 lead with 7:07 left. It was part of a 13-3 run by MSU (16-13, 8-7).

“[Ravern Johnson] got in a pretty good rhythm there,” Razorback Coach John Pelphrey said. “...we knew what would happen if he got off.”

Turning Point
Arkansas and Mississippi State were tied at 60 with 8:48 remaining. Julysess Nobles turned the ball over and the Bulldogs promptly answered with a 3-pointer from Kodi Augustus, who finished with 23 points. Another turnover followed and Arkansas gave up a Johnson 3-pointer.

MSU took over from there and built its lead as large as 12 points. The Bulldogs’ 88 points was their most ever in Fayetteville.

Wasted Effort
Those 11 made 3-pointers for the Razorbacks tied a season-high, but it didn’t matter. Guard Rotnei Clarke led the team with four of those 3-pointers, while Mashawn Powell, Marcus Britt and Julysses Nobles each had two.

Powell finished with 14 points and 13 rebounds.

Senior Moment
Arkansas guard Jemal Farmer got his first start since Nov. 22 as part of senior night festivities. Farmer made the most of it, scoring nine points with three rebounds in 16 minutes.

Seniors Delvon Johnson and Marcus Britt were also in the lineup. Johnson finished with 11 points, but just three rebounds. Britt ended the night with 10 points and three rebounds.

“[Farmer has] been practicing well, having a tremendous attitude,” Pelphrey said. “When he got his opportunity, he played well.”

Speaking Out
“We shot the ball pretty well. We were able to score. … The difference in the game was our 10 turnovers in the second half.”
—Arkansas Coach John Pelphrey on the team’s 12 turnovers, which led to 24 Mississippi State points

Speaking Out II
“I guess I should have suspended him sooner.”
—Bulldogs Coach Rick Stansbury on guard Ravern Johnson, who has shot 19 of 30 from behind the 3-point line since a suspension last month.

Up Next
Arkansas faces Ole Miss on Saturday in Oxford, Miss. A victory would clinch the SEC West No. 3 seed, but a loss drops the Razorbacks to No. 4.

Tagged: Arkansas Razorbacks, John Pelphrey, Jemal Farmer, Rotnei Clarke, Ravern Johnson, Marshawn Powell, Rick Stansbury, Mississippi State Bulldogs, Kodi Augustus