The hope for a win-streak after beating Georgia is dead as Arkansas loses 65-62 to Oklahoma.
To put it plainly, it was a ref show in Fayetteville. No, it's why Arkansas lost, but that's two games in a row where the referees couldn't swallow their whistle — or at least they couldn't until the final play of the game.
Regardless, it took the energy out of a lively Bud Walton crowd, one of the only ones this season. Its effects don't pop up on the stat sheet, but it was felt on the court. Still, that's not why the Razorbacks lost.
The reason the Hogs fell short is far less interesting, and that's a good thing. Oklahoma simply made a few more plays than Arkansas down the stretch. Previously, the Razorbacks would lose games in dramatic fashion, revealing multiple weaknesses time and again. Tonight, that wasn't the case.
Arkansas came out of the gate on fire and lost the lead like it has multiple times in SEC play. But the Razorbacks fought back to within four points by halftime. The runs in the second period were far less intense, with the largest being six points. It came down to the last play of the game, and arguably, Johnell Davis' shot should've been called a foul, but Arkansas missed its opportunity, nevertheless.
While there are no such things as moral victories in basketball, the fact that Arkansas is breaking the pattern should provide a glimmer of hope moving forward. And ideally, they're build on that effort as the season progresses.
The Hogs will take the week off, with its next game being John Calipari's first time visiting Rupp Arena after taking the job at Arkansas. In the meantime, it'll allow Arkansas to rest a shorthanded roster while the hype for the game build over the next seven days.