Eric Musselman says Baylor being in bonus early 'drastically' changed game

In a three-point road loss to Baylor on Saturday in the Big 12/SEC Challenge, Arkansas shot 13 fewer free throws than their opponents. Head coach Eric Musselman said after the 67-64 loss — a game that the Razorbacks led at the half — that Baylor getting into the bonus early in the second half changed things.

Baylor shot the first bonus free throws with 14:39 left to play in the game, trailing, 40-37. From that point, the Bears had an easy path to easy points: Get to the rim and hope Arkansas would foul.

“I’m not going to talk about it. How much does it change when someone’s in the bonus that shoots fouls as good as their players? It drastically changes the game,” Musselman said in his postgame press conference. “Five minutes into a half?”

By the end of the game, Arkansas had gone 6-of-11 from the free throw line. Baylor was was 21-of-24.

That’s what might happen when any foul in the final 15 minutes of a game sends a team to the free throw line.

Musselman says questioning officiating is ‘not worth it’

An old Southwest Conference rivalry was renewed on Saturday, with Arkansas traveling to Waco to face off against Baylor. They are now members of the SEC and Big 12, respectively, and faced off with the two conferences participating in the yearly challenge. Head coach Eric Musselman had his team back on the winning side of things and was hoping to continue at the Ferrell Center.

Unfortunately, Musselman found himself on the losing end, dropping another high-level game Arkansas has played this season. It’s become a bit of a reoccurring theme, as the Razorbacks are desperately in need of a big-time win. Baylor was not going to be that and a future SEC opponent will have to do.

Officiating is always a topic of conversation, especially on the road in these nonconference showdowns. Musselman most likely felt like his team was not on the beneficial end but did not make his feelings known during a postgame press conference.

Commenting on the referees was “not worth it” for Musselman, with there being punishments for speaking poorly of them.

“I don’t want to comment on the refs because it’s not worth it,” Musselman said.

Arkansas was on the receiving end of more fouls compared to Baylor, sitting at 23 to 19. Makhi Mitchell and Jordan Walsh both fouled out, while Jalen Graham and Makhel Mitchell finished with four fouls. Musselman had to manage his rotations all afternoon due to foul trouble.