Missouri @ Arkansas preview

Missouri at Arkansas

Last Meeting ( Mar 3, 2018 ) Arkansas 67, Missouri 77

Neither Missouri nor Arkansas can afford another loss after sluggish starts to SEC play, so the intensity should be ramped up when the Razorbacks host the Tigers on Wednesday. The border rivalry already is charged with former Missouri coach Mike Anderson now leading Arkansas, but there will be even more on the line with both teams trying to avoid falling further in the conference standings.

Each team’s only SEC win came at Texas A&M, coincidentally. The Razorbacks opened conference play with a 73-71 road win over the Aggies on Jan. 5 but have dropped four straight since, including blowout losses at Tennessee (106-87) and Ole Miss (84-67) in their last two contests. The Tigers lost their first three SEC games - all by double digits - but turned in their best defensive effort of the season in a 66-43 victory at Texas A&M on Saturday. Arkansas has won six of the last eight meetings, but Missouri has captured two of the last three and is aiming for back-to-back wins against the Razorbacks for the first time since sweeping the season series in 2014.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, SEC Network

ABOUT MISSOURI (10-6, 1-3 SEC): The Tigers lean on their defense, as they rank second in the SEC in scoring defense (65.2 points per game). At the offensive end, Missouri relies heavily on the 3-pointer, shooting an SEC-best 39.2 percent from beyond the arc with Mark Smith (12 points, 5.4 rebounds) leading the conference at 46.7 percent. Fellow guard Jordan Geist (13.7 points) is the only other Tiger averaging double digits in scoring, but Jeremiah Tilmon (9.9, 5.9 rebounds) is capable of putting up big numbers when he avoids foul trouble.

ABOUT ARKANSAS (10-7, 1-4): The Razorbacks are one of the youngest teams in the nation, but they also have the Preseason SEC Player of the Year in Daniel Gafford (16.5 points, 9.4 rebounds). Isaiah Joe (14.5 points) is shooting 43.6 percent from 3-point range, which ranks second in the conference behind Smith, and fellow guard Mason Jones (14.4) also can score. The Razorbacks rank second in the SEC in 3-point defense (31.3 percent), which will be put to the test by the sharp-shooting Tigers.

TIP-INS

1. Missouri is 10-0 when holding opponents to 69 points or fewer.

2. The Razorbacks’ four-game losing streak is their longest since a six-game skid to end the 2009-10 season.

3. Joe has made at least three 3-pointers in 11 of his 17 games.

PREDICTION: Arkansas 73, Missouri 69