FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas guard Mason Jones reverted back to the player Saturday against Mississippi State who was firmly rooted in Southeastern Conference player of the year conversations less than two weeks ago.
For the sixth time in a breakout junior season and eighth time in his Razorbacks career, Jones surpassed the 30-point mark. He finished with a game-high 38 points, bouncing back from a pair of inefficient performances against Missouri and Tennessee.
But he and Arkansas were dealt another agonizing loss.
With the Razorbacks up 77-76 with 11 seconds to play following a missed 3-pointer from Jones, Mississippi State forward Abdul Ado, who had not scored in the first 39-plus minutes of the game, tipped in an errant Tyson Carter runner with 0.