After two straight wins, the Arkansas Razorbacks (17-12, 6-10 SEC) hit the road and put up a historically bad performance Saturday in a 72-53 loss to the South Carolina Gamecocks (12-17, 2-14 SEC) at Colonial Life Arena.
The Gamecocks jumped out to a 16-2 first-half lead thanks to an 11-minute stretch without a field goal for the Razorbacks. The Hogs shot just 12.5% from the field and had 14 points in the first 20 minutes, the fewest in a half since they scored 12 in the first half against Nebraska in 1987.
Arkansas trailed by as much as 35 points, which is the largest deficit it's faced this season. The Razorbacks used a 13-0 run late to make the score look more respectable than how the game really played out.
Coach John Calipari's team was shorthanded once again, as Adou Thiero missed his second consecutive game after he hyperextended his knee against Missouri last Saturday. Trevon Brazile got the start in his place and scored just two points on 0-for-4 shooting with six rebounds before he fouled out of the game in the second half.
Jonas Aidoo had a good performance despite the blowout. He finished with a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double — his second of Southeastern Conference play and first since he played LSU on Jan. 14 — and he added two steals as well.
Before the game, Arkansas was mostly comfortable on the NCAA Tournament bubble. But now, the Hogs have more work to do to play in the Big Dance.
Here are some of HawgBeat's takeaways from Saturday's loss...
