COLUMBIA, Mo. — Dennis Gates always figured rebounding would be a chore for his first Missouri basketball team. With only two players taller than 6-foot-6 in his regular rotation, the Tigers would have to clean the glass by committee and learn to jostle with bigger bodies in the paint.
Wednesday was further proof of that team-wide challenge. In No. 13 Arkansas’ 74-68 victory at Bud Walton Arena, the Razorbacks not only controlled the boards 40-23 but finished with more offensive rebounds (15) than Mizzou’s defensive rebounds (14). It marked the 12th time in 14 games the Tigers lost the battle on the boards.