Mizzou snaps losing skid against Arkansas in Rally for Rhyan game

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(MUTigers.com) COLUMBIA, Mo. – Four Tigers scored in double figures, and an SEC-season-best shooting day guided the Mizzou Men’s Basketball team to a thrilling 83-78 win over Arkansas on Saturday evening. The win in the second annual Rally For Rhyan game snapped a 13-game losing streak.

Junior forward Jordan Barnett (St. Louis, Mo.) led Mizzou (6-16, 1-9 SEC) with 17 points, while sophomore guard K.J. Walton (Indianapolis, Ind.) dropped in 16 points. Forward Kevin Puryear (Blue Springs, Mo.) and guard Cullen VanLeer (Pacific, Mo.) also were in double digits as the sophomores scored 15 and 12, respectively. A season-high crowd of 11,434 was on hand to watch the Tigers shot 50.9% (27-of-53) from the field, their best mark in SEC play this year.

Arkansas hit a 3-pointer on the game’s first hot, but that was the only lead the Razorbacks (17-6, 6-4) would own. Mizzou grabbed a five-point lead on a midrange jumper from Puryear with 15:51 remaining in the first half, then shortly after exploded for a 12-2 run. Barnett had seven points during the run, and with 8:29 remaining in the first, the Tigers held a 24-10 lead.

After a couple of minutes of back and forth basketball, Russell Woods knocked in a pair of free throws and K.J. Walton put home a baseline dunk to give the Tigers a 32-17 lead. Arkansas responded with a small run and trimmed the Mizzou lead to six. However, the Tigers answered with a 7-0 run punctuated by a Barnett three. With time winding down in the period, Puryear grabbed an offensive board on the right wing and quickly sank a jumper to beat the buzzer. The Tigers held a 47-34 lead at halftime.

Mizzou shot 61.5% (16-of-26) in the first half against the Razorbacks, matching the team’s highest percentage in a half with its effort at Mississippi State two weeks ago.

Both teams traded baskets to start the second half and after Puryear knocked home a triple with 15:50 remaining, the Tigers held a 15-point lead. After the bucket, the Razorbacks caught fire and went on a 10-0 run to trim the lead to five. Barnett knocked down a trey to end the run and push the lead up to eight. Two minutes later, Jordan Geist was fouled while knocking home a jumper and converted the free throw to make the score 66-59.

Following a quick Razorback 6-0 run, Mizzou countered with a K.J. Walton baseline layup and a nifty play in the lane by sophomore guard Terrence Phillips (Orange County, Ca.) that led to a bucket. The Tigers held a 72-65 advantage with 5:21 remaining. After Arkansas responded with a scoring spurt, Puryear battled on the offensive glass to collect a miss and converted on a quick hook shot to make the score 78-74 Tigers with just over two minutes remaining in the game.

Just over a minute later, after both teams swapped a pair of free throws, Phillips drew an offensive foul which gave the Tigers possession with an 80-76 lead and 50 seconds remaining. On the ensuing possession, Phillips missed a jumper which led to a scramble for the rebound. Puryear fell on the ball and a jump ball was called which gave the Tigers the ball back with 22 seconds remaining. The Tigers then sealed the game by converting free throws.

Mizzou next hits the road for a matchup with Texas A&M on Wednesday, Feb. 8. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT with SEC Network and the Tiger Radio Network carrying live coverage of the game.

For all the latest on Mizzou Men’s Basketball, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team at @MizzouHoops (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook).

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