It may be a “lost season” for the Razorbacks, but Saturday afternoon’s Arkansas vs Kentucky matchup will still have some sentimental meaning.
The rematch between the two teams tipped off at 12:30 p.m. CT and was televised on CBS, marking the Arkansas’ final regular-season sporting event televised by the network before the SEC’s new deal with ESPN kicks in.
CBS has owned rights to SEC basketball games since the 1994-95 season and added football in 1996. That will end with the 2024-25 school year, as the conference enters a 10-year deal with ESPN that’s reportedly worth $3 billion.
It is the end of an era, as the Razorbacks have had at least one regular-season game televised on CBS in 22 of the past 30 seasons. According to data compiled from HogStats.com, they are 15-19 all-time in games on the network during the regular season.
That includes a 5-12 mark against Kentucky, which was Saturday’s opponent. The first matchup on the network was perhaps the most memorable, as No. 9 Arkansas beat No. 5 Kentucky 94-92 thanks to a jumper by Scotty Thurman with 10.6 seconds remaining.
Other games aired by CBS include an overtime upset win over No. 5 Florida in 2002 and an upset win over No. 20 Michigan in Mike Anderson’s first season as the Arkansas basketball coach. Jodie Meeks’ 45-point game against the Razorbacks, which is the highest-scoring performance by an opponent in Bud Walton Arena, was also on CBS in 2009.
While the 15-20 mark isn’t great, it is much better than the football’s team’s 19-39 record on CBS.
It’s worth noting that the Razorbacks could still play on CBS in the future, as it – along with TNT – owns the rights to the NCAA Tournament through 2032.
Follow along below for updates, highlights and stats from the final Arkansas vs Kentucky game on CBS…
(READ NEXT: Check out our in-depth preview of the Arkansas vs Kentucky rematch)
LIVE UPDATES – Arkansas vs Kentucky
15:45, 1H – Arkansas 12, Kentucky 10
The Hogs made their first six shots, including three by Trevon Brazile, before finally missing one. Unfortunately, they’ve struggled to keep Kentucky from scoring. DJ Wagner has knocked down a pair of early 3s. The Wildcats will be shooting free throws when play resumes.
11:41, 1H – Kentucky 22, Arkansas 19
There have been three lead changes and five ties so far. Back-to-back turnovers by the Hogs helped Kentucky stretch its lead to five, which is the largest by either team. Tramon Mark is heating up for the Hogs, with 9 points on 4 of 6 shooting. Arkansas has yet to attempt a free throw, while Kentucky is 8 of 8 from the stripe.
7:39, 1H – Kentucky 32, Arkansas 31
Arkansas is having a hard time defending the perimeter, as Kentucky is 4 of 9 from deep, but the Hogs have forced some turnovers leading to fastbreak buckets. Arkansas is shooting 70% (14 of 20) from the floor. We’re up to nine lead changes and seven ties.
3:23, 1H – Arkansas 40, Kentucky 38
The back-and-forth nature of this game has continued, now up to 10 lead changes and 10 ties. Musselman received a technical foul while arguing a non-travel call that essentially resulted in three points for Kentucky. Mark (12) and Battle (11) are the Hogs’ leading scorers, while Reeves has 12 for the Wildcats.
HALF – Kentucky 53, Arkansas 48
Khalif Battle knocked down a pair of free throws when play resumed to stretch the lead to four, but Kentucky responded with a 15-3 run in which Arkansas took some bad shots. Mark knocked down a 3 to make it a five-point game, though. There were 11 lead changes and 10 ties.
HALFTIME STATS
18:00, 2H – Arkansas 52 , Kentucky 60
A steal and would-be layup by Tramon Mark was negated by a vicious Adou Thiero block while Antonio Reeves begins to take over on the offensive side of the ball for Kentucky. It’s going to be tough for Arkansas to turn the tide without tightening down on Reeves.
16:39, 2H – Arkansas 58 , Kentucky 61
Arkansas has forced two quick turnovers and finally gotten Makhi Mitchell on the board with his first points of the game. Battle and Mark continue to cut Kentucky up driving the basket to close the gap.
13:13, 2H – Arkansas 64 , Kentucky 70
Just a few plays after flushing a dunk from a gorgeous dime from Devo Davis, Makhi Mitchell was called for a flagrant 1 foul for elbowing Aaron Bradshaw. The kind of play that changes the tenor of the game as Mitchell now has three fouls. Davis ends up stealing the ball and on the other side Mitchell makes two free throws.
7:50, 2H – Arkansas 86 , Kentucky 81
Hogs have surged ahead by great shooting from Mark, Davenport and Battle, along with some deft passing by Lawson and Davis, but there’s a sense they may need to hang on for dear life down the homestretch after Lawson picked up his fourth foul.
All three Razorback big men have four fouls now.
3:43, 2H – Arkansas 95 , Kentucky 92
Sure enough, Chandler Lawson has fouled out.
An unnecessary reach by Khalif Battle put Dillingham on the line where he scored two to cut Arkansas’ lead to 1 point. The next time down, Dillingham got to the rim and finished through contact on Davenport for a tough layup.
Final: Arkansas 102, Kentucky 111
Just like in the first Arkansas vs Kentucky matchup at Bud Walton Arena, the Wildcats turned on the afterburners in the last few minutes to pull away. Khalif Battle scored 34 points in a valiant effort, but the team simply couldn’t keep Kentucky’s bigs from running roughshod on Arkansas in the last few minutes.
OH, and as a small consolation prize, there’s at least this:
Arkansas vs Kentucky Final Boxscore
Starting Lineups
NOTE: Eric Musselman said on Thursday that he anticipated using a more traditional lineup with two big men and three guards. That’s how he’s starting the game, with Trevon Brazile replacing Davonte Davis in the starting lineup. This is the 16th different starting lineup of the season for Arkansas.
| Kentucky Basketball | Arkansas Basketball |
|---|---|
| #1 – Justin Edwards – G | #0 – Khalif Battle – G |
| #12 – Antonio Reeves – G | #3 – El Ellis – G |
| #21 – D.J. Wagner – G | #12 – Tramon Mark – G |
| #3 – Adou Thiero – F | #2 – Trevon Brazile – F |
| #33 – Ugonna Onyenso – F | #8 – Chandler Lawson – F |
How to Watch Arkansas vs Kentucky
Date: Saturday, March 3
Location: Rupp Arena (Lexington, Ky.)
Tipoff Time/TV: 12:30 p.m. CT (CBS)
ESPN BPI: Kentucky has a 93% chance of winning, favored by 18.4 points.
KenPom: Kentucky has a 91% chance of winning, favored by a score of 91-76.
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SEC Basketball Standings
| Team | SEC Record | Overall Record |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Tennessee | 12-3 | 22-6 |
| 1. Alabama | 12-3 | 20-8 |
| 3. South Carolina | 11-4 | 23-5 |
| 4. Auburn | 10-5 | 21-7 |
| 4. Florida | 10-5 | 20-8 |
| 4. Kentucky | 10-5 | 20-8 |
| 7. Mississippi State | 8-7 | 19-9 |
| 8. LSU | 7-8 | 15-13 |
| 9. Ole Miss | 6-9 | 19-9 |
| 9. Texas A&M | 6-9 | 15-13 |
| 11. Georgia | 5-10 | 15-13 |
| 11. Arkansas | 5-10 | 14-14 |
| 13. Vanderbilt | 3-12 | 8-20 |
| 14. Missouri | 0-15 | 8-20 |
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