The game was a back-and-forth affair from the opening tip-off, with neither team leading by more than six points at any point in the first half. Mizzou took a 37-35 lead into halftime thanks to strong shooting from senior guard Nick Honor, who scored 15 points in the opening frame.
The second half saw Arkansas come out strong, taking a seven-point lead early in the period. However, Mizzou rallied back behind the play of junior guard Kobe Brown, who had 22 points and 11 rebounds in the game. The Tigers eventually retook the lead with just over five minutes remaining and held on for the narrow victory.
"It was an ugly win, but a win nonetheless," said Mizzou head coach Dennis Gates. "Our guys showed a lot of heart and resilience in the second half, and I'm proud of their effort."
"We didn't shoot the ball well today, but we fought hard," said Arkansas head coach Eric Musselman. "We're disappointed with the result, but we're looking forward to the SEC Tournament."
With the win, Mizzou secured a top-five seed in the upcoming SEC Tournament. The Tigers will face the winner of the No. 12 seed vs. No. 13 seed game in the second round.
Arkansas, meanwhile, will be the No. 6 seed in the tournament and will play the winner of the No. 11 seed vs. No. 14 seed game in the second round.
Both Mizzou and Arkansas will now turn their attention to the SEC Tournament, which begins on March 8th in Nashville, Tennessee. The Tigers are looking to win their first SEC Tournament championship since 2009, while the Razorbacks are seeking their first title since 2016.
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