Jefferson Free Throws Big in Win Over Missouri

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Ronnie Brewer and Jonathon Modica accounted for most of the scoring, but Dontell Jefferson did it to Missouri again. Jeffersons two free throws with 9.3 seconds remaining provided the final margin as Arkansas held off Missouri for a 66-63 victory in Bud Walton Arena on Friday. Arkansas led by 14 three times in the second half, but the Tigers made four of their nine three-point buckets in the final 5:13 and actually took a 61-60 lead on Jason Hortons trey with 1:24 to play. The Razorbacks (5-2) reclaimed the lead with Modica scoring inside and completing the three-point play after getting fouled. A Ronnie Brewer free throw gave the Hogs a 64-61 lead, but he missed the second and Eric Ferguson missed two free throws with 17.4 seconds to go. Arkansas chose to foul rather than give Missouri the opportunity to shoot another three. Horton missed the front end of a one-and-one with 11.6 seconds left, but Kevin Youngs follow pulled the Tigers within 64-63. With 9.3 seconds to go, Jefferson, who was four-of-four in the final 1:06 of last years 62-52 win at Missouri, canned both free throws for the final margin. Arkansas fouled again with 5.8 seconds to go and Horton missed the free throw. The teams battled for the rebound and the Razorbacks gained possession as the horn sounded. Ahead 34-26 at the half, an 8-0 run, including five points by Modica, gave the Razorbacks a 46-32 advantage with 12:29 left. Marshall Brown hit a three for the Tigers, but Charles Thomas answered with a three of his own to push the margin back to 14. Missouri cut the deficit to 49-39, but dunks by Jefferson and Brewer pushed the margin back to 14 at 53-39 with 8:08 to go. Brewer made six-of-12 shots and finished with a game-high 20 points to go with four rebounds, four assists and two steals. Modica shot 50 percent from the field for the sixth time in seven games, going seven-of-13 to finish with 19 points. Thomas had 11 points and four rebounds. Darian Townes had eight points and seven rebounds. The leading shot blocker in the Southeastern Conference coming in with 2.33 per game, he had six rejections. Jefferson had just four points but had six assists and only one turnover. Young led Missouri with 13 points and eight rebounds. Thomas Gardner, averaging 21.7 points coming in, was held to 11 on four-of-11 shooting. Brown had 10 points. The Razorbacks play host to Texas State Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. in a game televised by ARSN.