Mississippi State falls to No. 21 Arkansas, 88-68

Mississippi State suffered an 88-68 loss to No. 21 Arkansas on Saturday. Postgame, players highlighted key factors contributing to the defeat, including turnovers and missed assignments.

Forward Jamarion Davis-Fleming credited Arkansas for executing a solid game plan. He said, “They had a great game plan coming in. We just missed a couple of assignments on ball screens and defense. They didn’t do anything spectacular; they made shots and ran good sets.”

Davis-Fleming acknowledged turnovers as a major factor. “They were crucial. If we take away the turnover points, it’s a different game. We held them below their usual fast-break points, but the turnovers led to easy buckets for Arkansas,” he said.

Teammate Achor Achor emphasized ball security as key to future success. “In the first half, we had about six turnovers that led to points. If we cut down on those, the game is much closer,” he said. Achor noted that turnovers have been a recurring issue this season, affecting the team’s confidence and performance.

Jamarion Davis-Fleming, who has shown significant growth this season, received praise from Achor. “He’s going to be a really special player in the SEC. He’s tough, physical, and has worked hard to get in shape,” Achor stated. Davis-Fleming was out of shape early in the season but has since become a force on the court.

The team plans to focus on practice and resilience ahead of their upcoming game against Tennessee. Davis-Fleming said, “We’ve got to keep our heads up, work through the negatives, and stay together. Even when things aren’t going well, we have to keep going.”

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