OXFORD, Miss — It's been a reoccurring theme for Arkansas this season — falling behind early and, with poor shooting and a lack of defense, unable to fight back.
That theme was again on display Wednesday night when the Razorbacks (10-9, 1-5 SEC) shot just 33.3% from the field in a 77-51 loss to Ole Miss in Oxford.
Arkansas, losers of five of its last six games, were 5 of 22 (22.7%) from behind the three-point line and led by Khalif Battles' 11 points, four rebounds and two assists.
Morrilton native Joseph Pinion came off the bench and added 10 points, one rebound and two assists in 21 minutes of action, while Keyon Menifield Jr. scored seven points.
Playing without leading scorer Tramon Mark, the Razorbacks and head coach Eric Musselman rolled out their 10th unique starting lineup of the season, which consisted of Battle, Menifield, Davonte Davis, Denijay Harris and Chandler Lawson.
Musselman played 13 different Hogs in Arkansas's 77-64 loss to South Carolina last Saturday, leaving many to speculate if the coach is still trying to find the right group of five 19 games into the season.
Well, this group yielded the same results.
Arkansas started the game missing three of its first four shots, allowing the Rebels (16-3, 3-3 SEC) to build a 12-2 lead out of the gate.
Ole Miss guards Jaylen Murray and Matthew Murrell then nailed consecutive three-pointers, and in the blink of an eye, the Hogs were trailing 24-9 midway through the first half.
Murray scored a game-high 21 points on 8 of 15 (53.3%) shooting with one rebound and three assists. Murrell completed the one-two backcourt punch for the Rebels with 18 points, four rebounds and two assists.
The Razorbacks committed 14 turnovers, including six in five minutes. Ole Miss scored 22 points off turnovers and used those extra possessions to shoot 47% from the field and 7 of 19 (36.8%) from three.
Despite the dysfunctional play, Arkansas slowly started to creep back.
Battle knocked down a jumper and made a free throw to cut the Rebels' lead to 29-23, but that was the closest they would get as the team went scoreless in the final four minutes of the first half to take a 12-point deficient into the locker room.
Much like the start of the game, Ole Miss came out swinging in the second half, knocking down four of its first five shots while holding the Hogs to just five points in five minutes.
The Rebels, who improved to 12-0 at home this season, seized all momentum and put together a 10-0 run to take a 69-43 lead with 6:11 remaining in the game thanks to a layup by Allen Flanigan, a Little Rock native.
Flanigan, who graduated from Little Rock Parkview in 2019, finished with 10 points, a game-high 11 rebounds and three assists to help Ole Miss to its largest win over Arkansas since December 10, 1973.
Arkansas returns home for a battle against Kentucky on Saturday. Coverage from Bud Walton Arena begins at 5:00 p.m. Central on ESPN.