Arkansas beats No. 25 Mississippi State by one in frantic finish
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Jonas Aidoo made one of two free throws with 11 seconds left to break a tie game and No. 25 Mississippi State missed two potential game-winning shots at the rim at the other end to close out Arkansas' 93-92 victory on Saturday.
Mississippi State (20-11, 8-10 Southeastern Conference) used a 12-0 run to go up by one point with 3:14 to play, its first lead since before halftime. Arkansas (19-12, 8-10), which led by one at the break, opened the second half on a 10-run.
DJ Wagner, who scored a game-high 24 points, gave the Razorbacks a three-point lead on a 3-pointer with 44 seconds left. But Jonathan Hubbard countered, hitting a 3-pointer for the Bulldogs just 10 seconds later to set up the frantic finish.
Aidoo, a preseason second-team All-SEC selection, largely struggled in his first season with the Razorbacks after transferring from Tennessee. But he scored a season-high 21 points and had 10 rebounds in the regular-season finale.
Claudell Harris Jr. led Mississippi State with 18 points and Hubbard finished with 17.
Takeaways
The Razorbacks entered the game likely on the right side of the NCAA Tournament bubble and should be breathing fine on Selection Sunday. Mississippi State should make the tournament, as well, but the Bulldogs have seen their seeding drop as they lost four of their last five games.
Key moment
Riley Kugel, who made the 3 that gave Mississippi State its first second-half lead, was blocked at the rim by Billy Richmond in the waning seconds. RJ Melendez grabbed the offensive rebound, but missed the putback as time expired.
Key stats
The Razorbacks shot well. They made 55% of their field goals, 43% of their 3-pointers and 81% of their free throws. The Bulldogs committed just two turnovers and scored 19 points off 10 Arkansas giveaways.
Up next
Arkansas will be either the No. 9 or No. 10 seed in next week's SEC Tournament.
Mississippi State will be either the No. 10 seed or the No. 11 seed in the SEC Tournament.
___
Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fox Sports
an hour ago
- Fox Sports
Can the inexperienced Cristian Chivu's playing success translate to the dugout at Inter Milan?
Associated Press MILAN (AP) — Inter Milan appointed Cristian Chivu as coach on Monday despite his relative inexperience, and he will hope to be as successful as he was in his playing career with the Nerazzurri. The 44-year-old Romanian replaces Simone Inzaghi, who resigned last Tuesday and took charge of Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal the following day. 'FC Internazionale Milano is pleased to welcome Cristian Chivu as the new head coach of the first team,' the club said. 'The coach has signed a contract with Inter until 30 June 2027.' The appointment was announced by the Champions League runner-up just hours after Serie A rival Parma agreed to terminate Chivu's contract. Italian media reports that Chivu will earn 2.5 million euros ($2.9 million) a season. Al-Hilal lured Inzaghi with an offer of reportedly more than 20 million euros ($23 million) per season. Chivu has overseen only 13 matches in Serie A, securing safety with Parma after being given his first senior coaching position in February. Parma was in a dire position when it turned to Chivu, having lost four straight matches and sitting 18th in the 20-team league. Chivu swiftly turned things around and only lost three of his 13 matches in charge, recording impressive results against eventual champion Napoli, Juventus, Atalanta and Inter itself. He had spent the previous seven years in charge of various youth teams at Inter, where he ended his playing career in 2014. The former Romania defender was part of Inter's famous treble-winning team in 2010, lifting the Champions League, Serie A and Italian Cup trophies. He also helped the Nerazzurri to another two Serie A titles among the nine trophies amassed during his seven years at the club. Chivu will not have much time to settle, with Inter scheduled to fly to Los Angeles on Wednesday for the Club World Cup. It opens up against Monterrey on June 17 and also plays Urawa Red Diamonds and River Plate in the group stage. Inzaghi had spent four seasons at Inter. His final match in charge was the 5-0 rout by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final at the end of last month. The 49-year-old Inzaghi coached Inter to the Serie A title last year and was also in charge when the club lost the 2023 Champions League final to Manchester City. __ AP soccer: in this topic
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Sports betting roundup: Stanley Cup Final and NBA Finals each at 1-1 headed into Game 3s
Florida Panthers' Brad Marchand (63) scores the winning goal against Edmonton Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner (74) as Leon Draisaitl (29) watches during the second overtime period in Game 2 of the NHL Stanley Cup Final in Edmonton, Alberta, Friday, June 6, 2025. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP) The Stanley Cup Final and NBA Finals have each played two games, and both series are knotted at a game apiece. In the NHL, the Panthers won a double-overtime game Friday night against the Edmonton Oilers to tie that series at 1-1 heading into Monday's Game 3 in Florida. Both games have gone to overtime. Advertisement In the NBA, the Oklahoma City Thunder bounced back from a Game 1 loss to even the series against the Indiana Pacers. Game 3 in that series is Wednesday night in Indianapolis. Trends of the Week After losing Game 1 to Indiana, Oklahoma City was an 11.5-point favorite in Game 2, and they comfortably covered, winning 123-107. At the BetMGM sportsbook, the Thunder took in 70% of the money, but only 37% of the bets. Since 2005, teams to lose as double-digit favorites in the NBA playoffs and be favored by 10 or more points in the next game are now 5-2 against the spread. Oklahoma City ended the first quarter on a 9-0 run to lead 26-20 after 12 minutes. This allowed the 4.5-point first quarter spread to cash, with 91% of the money coming in on the Thunder. Advertisement Following Edmonton taking Game 1 against Florida, the Oilers were -235 to win the Stanley Cup. Now, with Florida winning Game 2, Florida is a slight favorite to win at -115, with Edmonton coming in at -105. Upset of the Week At the French Open, Coco Gauff (+185) upset Aryna Sabalenka to win the women's title. Only 29% of the money was on Gauff to win. On the men's side, Carlos Alcaraz came back from two sets down against Jannik Sinner to win a second straight French Open title. Alcaraz was +5000 live when he was down to sets. Ryan Fox won for the second time on the PGA Tour this season at the RBC Canadian Open. Fox beat Sam Burns on the fourth playoff hole after both players finished the event at 18 under. He was +5500 in pre-tournament winner betting, and took in only 0.8% of the bets and 1.7% of the money. Advertisement Coming Up NFL minicamps get underway this week and the Philadelphia Eagles remain the favorites to win the Super Bowl at +650. The Eagles are followed by the Baltimore Ravens at +700, the Buffalo Bills at +750 and the Kansas City Chiefs at +800. The Detroit Lions round out the top five at +1000. ___ This column was provided to The Associated Press by BetMGM online sportsbook. ___ AP sports:
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner now take their terrific rivalry from the French Open to Wimbledon
Spain's Carlos Alcaraz celebrates with the trophy after winning the final match of the French Tennis Open against Italy's Jannik Sinner at the Roland-Garros stadium in Paris, Sunday, June 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) Second placed Italy's Jannik Sinner reacts after the final match of the French Tennis Open against Spain's Carlos Alcaraz at the Roland-Garros stadium in Paris, Sunday, June 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) Spain's Carlos Alcaraz celebrates after winning the final match of the French Tennis Open against Italy's Jannik Sinner at the Roland-Garros stadium in Paris, Sunday, June 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) Spain's Carlos Alcaraz hugs Italy's Jannik Sinner after winning the final match of the French Tennis Open at the Roland-Garros in Paris, Sunday, June 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard) Spain's Carlos Alcaraz hugs Italy's Jannik Sinner after winning the final match of the French Tennis Open at the Roland-Garros in Paris, Sunday, June 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard) Spain's Carlos Alcaraz celebrates with the trophy after winning the final match of the French Tennis Open against Italy's Jannik Sinner at the Roland-Garros stadium in Paris, Sunday, June 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) Second placed Italy's Jannik Sinner reacts after the final match of the French Tennis Open against Spain's Carlos Alcaraz at the Roland-Garros stadium in Paris, Sunday, June 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) Spain's Carlos Alcaraz celebrates after winning the final match of the French Tennis Open against Italy's Jannik Sinner at the Roland-Garros stadium in Paris, Sunday, June 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) Spain's Carlos Alcaraz hugs Italy's Jannik Sinner after winning the final match of the French Tennis Open at the Roland-Garros in Paris, Sunday, June 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard) The takeaways from Carlos Alcaraz's fifth-set tiebreaker victory over Jannik Sinner in the riveting and record-breaking French Open men's final were multiple and significant. Let's start with this: Anyone worried about how men's tennis would survive in the post-Big Three era can rest easy. Alcaraz and Sinner produced 5 1/2 hours of evidence Sunday that the game is in good hands — and that their rivalry will be, and perhaps already is, a transcendent one. Advertisement Take it from no less an authority than Roger Federer. The retired owner of 20 Grand Slam titles, and rival of Rafael Nadal (22 majors) and Novak Djokovic (24), began a post on social media by declaring, '3 winners in Paris today,' then listed Alcaraz, Sinner and 'the beautiful fame of tennis. What a match!' No. 1 Sinner and No. 2 Alcaraz could renew their rivalry at Wimbledon This was the 12th Alcaraz-Sinner meeting, the first in a major final. 'Hopefully not the last time,' Alcaraz said. 'Every time that we face ... each other, we raise our level to the top.' It would be shocking if there weren't many more of these to come — perhaps as soon as at Wimbledon, where play begins on June 30 and No. 2-ranked Alcaraz is the two-time defending champion. Advertisement His comeback against No. 1 Sinner from two sets down, then three championship points down, to win 4-6, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (10-2) was unprecedented at Roland-Garros. It was unforgettable. Alcaraz's coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, described his guy's best trait this way: 'His strength is (to) keep believing all the time, until the last ball is gone.' Carlos Alcaraz has five Grand Slam titles at age 22 Alcaraz's five Grand Slam titles at 22 — that's the age at which Nadal, Bjorn Borg and Pete Sampras also got to five; no one's done it younger — show how special he is. So does the Spaniard's 5-0 record in major finals, a career start surpassed among men only by Federer's 7-0. Sinner is pretty good, too. Tuesday marks a full year that he has been ranked No. 1. He has reached the finals of his last eight tournaments, a run last accomplished by Djokovic a decade ago. He has won three majors. He has won 47 of his last 50 matches. Advertisement Notably, all three of those losses came against — yes, you guessed it — Alcaraz. That hearkens back to the days when Federer would beat everyone other than Nadal. Sinner had claimed 31 Slam sets in a row right up until the moment he was up 2-0 against Alcaraz. What was unmistakable to anyone watching in-person at Court Philippe-Chatrier or following along from afar on TV is that Alcaraz vs. Sinner is a must-see. 'The level,' Alcaraz said, 'was insane.' Alcaraz and Sinner have won the last 6 Grand Slam titles Sinner's take? 'I'm happy to be part of this,' the 23-year-old Italian said. 'Would be even more happy if I would have ... the big trophy.' Advertisement As with any great rivalry — think Evert vs. Navratilova or Borg vs. McEnroe or Federer vs. Nadal, no first names needed — Alcaraz vs. Sinner provides a clash of excellence and a study in contrasts. Alcaraz displays emotion, pumping his fists, pointing to an ear to ask for more noise, yelling 'Vamos!' Sinner is rather contained. Sinner's long limbs get him to nearly every ball. Alcaraz's motor reaches speeds no one can equal. Sinner's ball-striking is pure. Alcaraz's drop shots are legendary. Both hammer groundstrokes that leave opponents exasperated and spectators gasping. Both can improve. Sinner has never won a match that lasted four hours. Alcaraz loses focus on occasion. Both are eager to improve. When Sinner returned from a three-month doping ban last month, he introduced a new, angled return stance. Alcaraz tweaked his serve and backhand technique. Advertisement Who knows what heights each can reach? They split the past six Slam trophies, and eight of the past 11. Roger Federer predicted big champions would come along again Federer saw this coming. During an interview with The Associated Press in December 2019, Federer predicted someone would win major after major the way he, Nadal and Djokovic did. Just didn't know there would be a Big Two doing it. 'It's going to happen, inevitably,' Federer said. 'And it's almost not going to be that hard, maybe ... because the players will have seen what we did. And they didn't see just one guy doing it, once every 30 years. They saw like three guys doing it, in the shortest period of time. ... Players are going to believe more." Advertisement ___ AP Sports Writer Jerome Pugmire in Paris contributed to this report. ___ Howard Fendrich has been the AP's tennis writer since 2002. Find his stories here: More AP tennis:
