What they were saying after Oklahoma defeated Arkansas 79-70
The Arkansas Razorbacks lost the third annual Crimson & Cardinal Classic to the Oklahoma Sooners 79-70 on Saturday afternoon in the BOK Center in Tulsa. The Razorbacks trailed the Sooners for the last 24 minutes and 11 seconds, trailing by as much as 19 points.
In a game that saw six technical fouls called, including the ejection of Arkansas coach Eric Musselman, Razorback and Oklahoma fans had a lot to say. Check out the reactions on social media to the game as it happened. As 3.5-point underdogs going into the game, the Razorbacks lose and finish the season at 6-4, while the Sooners remain unbeaten at 9-0.
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ANTICIPATION PRIOR TO THE GAME
Fans and media from Arkansas were anticipating the start of the third Crimson & Cardinal Classic with great excitement. The Razorbacks had a 17-13 all-time record against the Sooners coming into the game, including a 6-1 advantage in games played at neutral sites. The Hogs and OU met once at The BOK Center in Tulsa, where the Hogs won 88-78 in 2022 and lost 88-66 in 2021.
OFFENSIVELY SLOW TO START FOR HOGS
El Ellis’ desperate 3-pointer with 15:59 remaining in the first half was Arkansas’ first and only basket at the first media timeout, with the Hogs trailing 6-3. The Hogs went 1 of 4 from the field to start the half, but Khalif Battle came off the bench and drained a pull-up 3-pointer to tie the game at 6-6.
EARLY BACK AND FORTH
In the first 8:04 of the game, there were two ties and two lead exchanges between the Razorbacks and Sooners. With 11:56 remaining in the first half, Jeremiah Davenport hit a rainbow trey to tie the score at 13 points ahead of the second media timeout. In the first eight minutes and forty-four seconds, each team had scored seven runs.
IMPACT OF JALEN GRAHAM OFF BENCH
With 8:51 remaining and a put-back dunk to tie the game at 15–15, Jalen Graham made an impression coming off the bench. He then blocked Milos Uzan beautifully with 8:01 remaining. With 7:53 remaining in the half, the Razorbacks were behind 17–15 going into the under-8 timeout. Arkansas was 6 of 18 from the floor at this point in the game, with six different players making each basket.
Oklahoma Emerges as a Leader
Rivaldo Soares of Oklahoma made a layup with 3:33 remaining in the first half to put the Sooners up 27-23, tying their biggest lead of the game at that point at four points. With 3:10 remaining and the under-4:00 timeout, the Sooners were up to 12 of 21 (57.1%) from the field while the Razorbacks were only 7 of 23 (30.4%). In the paint, OU had a 22–8 advantage. With 1:56 remaining, the Sooners extended the lead to 33-25, resulting in an Eric Musselman timeout.
Oklahoma extends its lead prior to the half.
Oklahoma finished the game on a 14-2 run, which included an 8-0 run in the last 2:21 of the first half. Arkansas shot just 1 of 7 from the field at the half’s conclusion. At the end of the first half, the Sooners were 14 of 25 (56%) from the floor, compared to the Hogs’ 8 of 27 (30%). At the half, OU led 37–25.
SECOND HALF EVAPORATES QUICKLY FOR HOGS
The Hogs cut OU’s 12-point halftime lead to six points, 37-31, after freshman guard Layden Blocker got the start of the half and the first six points after the break. But with 15:50 remaining, at the under-16:00 timeout, OU quickly picked up steam and increased their lead to 15 points, 48-33.
TOSSED BY ERIC MUSSELMAN
After what seemed to be a clean block by Arkansas’ Tramon Mark, OU’s Soares was called for a technical foul with 15:50 remaining in the game. Eric Musselman was then called for two fouls and was ejected. The Hogs trailed 52-33 after thirty seconds, trailing by 19 points.
