A scrappy performance wasn’t enough as Texas A&M’s bid for an upset came up short in a 69-59 Southeastern Conference basketball loss to Arkansas at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville.
The Aggies (6-6, 0-1) trailed just 55-52 after Savion Flagg hit a jumper with 8:09 remaining.
However, Arkansas’ Jimmy Whitt hit a mid-range jumper over Josh Nebo’s extended hand to launch an 8-2 run that put the Razorbacks (12-1) in control 63-54 with 4:30 remaining.
The Aggies trailed 66-59 when Andre Gordon banked in a 3-pointer from the top-of-the-key with 3:36 remaining.
But their hopes for a late rally ended with two missed shots and two turnovers on A&M’s ensuing possessions.
Gordon led the Aggies with 17 points, while Wendell Mitchell scored 15, and Nebo had 10 points and 13 rebounds.
Joe and Mason Jones each had 17 points to lead Arkansas, which also got 13 points from guard Desi Sills and 12 from Whitt.
The Aggies, which entered the game on a three-game winning streak, played a strong first half. They trailed just 33-32 after Mitchell hit a pair of free throws with 2:03 left in the half.
But Jones and Sills had 3-pointers as Arkansas went on a 9-1 run to close the half and take a 42-33 lead at the break.
With a tenacious second-half defensive effort that forced Arkansas to miss nine consecutive shots, the Aggies pulled within 52-50 on Gordon’s lean-in bank shot with 9:01 showing.
They never got any closer.
