Arkansas’ 19th-ranked basketball team could not overcome its slow start against Illinois on Thursday.
The Razorbacks fell behind 11-0 and never could make a dent in the deficit as the Fighting Illini won 90-77 at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City. The neutral-site game was billed as the Thanksgiving Classic and was attended by an announced 5,707.
Arkansas (5-2) had a four-game win streak snapped. Illinois (6-1) has won three in a row since a Nov. 20 loss to Alabama.
The Razorbacks could not have asked for a worse start to the game. They missed their first 4 shots and committed 3 turnovers while the Illini made 3 threes.