Takeaways From Texas A&M's Road Loss To No. 20 Arkansas Razorbacks

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Texas A&M’s flicker of momentum was extinguished in a hurry Wednesday night, as No. 20 Arkansas surged back from an early 11-2 hole and rolled to a 99-84 victory that leaves the Aggies staring at a 2-5 slide in their last seven outings.

The Razorbacks’ 16-0 first-half blitz flipped the script for good. Once Arkansas grabbed control, the Aggies never reclaimed the lead, undone by a 13-turnover first half that ballooned to 16 for the game. Those giveaways translated into 17 Arkansas points, 30 fast-break points and nine steals—numbers that coach Buzz Williams’s group simply couldn’t offset.

Every time A&M clawed within striking distance—most notably when the deficit shrank to four in the second half—another turnover or defensive lapse restored Arkansas’s double-digit cushion.

The lone silver lining came in the form of senior forward Zach Clemence, who poured in a career-best 29 points, 22 after intermission, to keep the contest from becoming a runaway. The 6-foot-11 San Antonio product, now averaging 7.2 points on the season, followed up his 13-point second-half explosion in last week’s 80-77 comeback over Ole Miss with another statement performance that could prove vital if the Aggies reach March Madness.

At 9-6 in SEC play, Texas A&M still owns viable paths to the NCAA field. The closing slate—Texas, Kentucky and LSU—features two opponents the Aggies have already beaten this year. LSU’s 3-12 league mark offers a winnable road finale in Baton Rouge, while a Reed Arena date with a 9-6 Kentucky squad that has struggled on the road leaves the door ajar for a momentum-building victory.

First up is a Saturday-afternoon renewal of the Lone Star rivalry when Texas visits College Station for a 3 p.m. tip-off. A&M will need sharper ball security and sustained defensive focus to avoid a sixth loss in eight games and keep its postseason hopes on track.