Oh, So Close

Missouri downs Arkansas on last-second jumper

Missouri's Jordan Clarkson, right, has the ball knocked away by Arkansas' Mardracus Wade, left, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Jabari Brown drove the lane for the go-ahead basket with 12.2 seconds left for the last of his 25 points and Missouri survived a late surge by Arkansas for an 86-85 victory on Thursday night.

Jordan Clarkson had 27 points to lead Missouri (17-7, 5-6 SEC), which ended the first three-game losing streak of coach Frank Haith's three seasons. The last two wins have come against the Razorbacks (15-9, 4-7) and former Missouri coach Mike Anderson, including a four-point win on the road Jan. 28.

Ky Madden had 17 points for Arkansas, which scored 10 straight points to take an 85-83 lead with the go-ahead points on Mardracus Wade's layup with 1:14 to go after Clarkson's blown layup on the other end. Madden drove the lane for a shot that rolled out with two seconds to go.

Arkansas is 1-5 on the road and 3-23 in three seasons under Anderson. Alandise Harris added 16 points and Bobby Portis had 15 for the losers.

Missouri made its first 23 free throws to tie a single-game school record before Brown, who'd been 9 for 9, missed the first of two shots with 14:06 left. The Tigers set a school record with 27 in a row over two games, topping the previous best by one and set a season best by going 34 for 38 overall.

Brown was 14 for 15 and Clarkson was 11 for 13.

Missouri led by 11 early in the second half, trailed by four and regained an eight-point cushion with 3:40 to go before Arkansas' 10-0 run with two points each from five players.

Missouri led 48-42 at the half with Brown (16 points) and Clarkson (12) carrying the load. The first-half scoring was a season best. Brown scored 10 straight points for the Tigers late in the half capped by a three-point play that made it 42-35 with 2:54 to go.

Attendance of 12,362 was a season best at Missouri, although more than 2,500 shy of capacity.