Michigan State holds off Arkansas for early-season statement win
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Michigan State didn’t hit a shot from the field over the final 6:02 of Saturday’s early-season battle with Arkansas. But the Razorbacks missed 6 of their final 7 shot attempts from the floor, including a last-second attempt from Trevon Brazile to try and tie the game late.
As was the case for most of his evening, Brazile was off. His 3-point try with 2 seconds remaining missed everything. No. 22 Michigan State took over possession and escaped with a 69-66 victory.
Brazile was a force in his season debut for the 14th-ranked Razorbacks on Monday. He scored 25 points, grabbed 11 boards, and made 8 of his 14 shot attempts in the Hogs’ 109-77 win over Southern.
On Saturday night, he crashed back down to earth.
Brazile picked up 2 early fouls that limited him to 8 first-half minutes. He took just 1 shot attempt from the field, which missed, and went into the break with as many turnovers (1) as points.
After a lengthy review in the closing seconds of the game gave Arkansas possession with less than 5 seconds remaining on the clock, Brazile caught an inbounds lob out beyond the 3-point line on the right wing. With a defender draped on him and little time to do much else, Brazile put up a shot that was more a prayer than anything else.
It missed. He finished 1-for-5 from the field and 0-for-2 from 3-point range, managing just 3 points and 2 rebounds. Four personal fouls limited Brazile to just 19 minutes on the floor.
Arkansas forward Nick Pringle also fouled out in 28 minutes, finishing with 6 points and 7 boards.
Darius Acuff Jr. and Meleek Thomas each scored 16 points. Acuff took 16 shots to get there while Thomas took 15. As a team, Arkansas shot just 39.3% from the floor and 25% from 3. They also missed 8 free throws in the game.
Michigan State was ice-cold from 3, only making 1 of 14 all night. Cameron Ward led the way with 18 points and 10 boards. MSU controlled the boards and won the paint battle, 46-28.
Arkansas will look to bounce back against Central Arkansas at home on Tuesday. MSU faces San Jose State before a game against Kentucky on Nov. 18. The college basketball season is just getting started, but Saturday’s result is the one that could matter when March Madness rolls around.
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
