Arkansas hangs on at the buzzer to improve NCAA Tournament resume
By SAM LANCE
Arkansas needed another big win to improve its resume and cement a spot in the NCAA Tournament. The Razorbacks did exactly that on Saturday, beating No. 25 Mississippi State at home 93-92.
“Everyone put us in a coffin after [an] 0-5 [SEC start]… they just forgot the nails,” Arkansas coach John Calipari told reporters.
Senior big man Jonas Aidoo headed to the line with 11 seconds left and made one of two free throws to put Arkansas up one point. The Bulldogs then had two great looks at the basket with a chance to win the game, but neither shot fell. Sophomore guard DJ Wagner hit the biggest shot of the game for the Razorbacks, putting them up three in the final minute to set up the closing seconds.
GO DJ. THATS MY DJ. pic.twitter.com/ZrzlGh1Icr
— Arkansas Razorbacks Men’s Basketball (@RazorbackMBB) March 8, 2025
Wagner and Aidoo led the way with 24 and 21 points, respectively. Aidoo, who transferred in from Tennessee, scored his most points in a Razorback uniform. Senior guard Johnell Davis (15 points), junior forward Trevon Brazile (11 points) and freshman forward Billy Richmond (10 points) were the other Arkansas players with 10+ points. Senior guard Claudell Harris Jr. led six Mississippi State players in double-figures with 18 points.
Arkansas started SEC play 1-6 but have since gone 7-4 to end its SEC slate 8-10. The Razorbacks are 19-12 overall and 6-9 in Quad 1 games. If they aren’t safely in the NCAA Tournament field already, a win on Wednesday in the first round of the SEC Tournament should solidify their spot.
Calipari roughly on postgame radio: “Everyone put us in a coffin after 0-5… they just forgot the nails.”
— JC Hoops (@JacksonCollier) March 8, 2025
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