Offensive explosion paces Hogs to finally an easy win

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Nick Smith Jr., scored a season-high 26 points, making five 3-pointers, and Ricky Council IV pumped in 21, making three 3-pointers to lead Arkansas to an 87-65 victory over Georgia Tuesday night at Bud Walton Arena.

The team set a program record for the best shooting percentage in an SEC game (63.8%), shot 55.5% from 3-point range (11-of-20) and dished out a season-high 26 assists,

Nick Smith (Andy Hodges / HitThatLine.com)

• The 26 assists ties for the fifth-most by the Hogs in an SEC game.

• Overall, Arkansas has 266 passes for the game, the most by any Eric Musselman, college team.

• The 32-point win was the biggest margin of victory by Arkansas in the Georgia series and the ninth-largest margin of victory in an SEC game.

• Arkansas made a season-high 11 3-pointers (20 attempts)

• Arkansas committed a season-low five turnovers. It was just the third time Arkansas had single-digit turnovers this year, committing nine each versus Creighton and Oklahoma.

In addition to Smith and Council, Arkansas was led by Anthony Black, Jordan Walsh and Davonte Davis.

Nick Smith (Andy Hodges / HitThatLine.com)

Black scored 10 points and, for the third time this season, dished out a career-high eight assists. It was the first time this season he did not commit a turnover. Walsh scored nine points and grabbed seven rebounds with two steals.

Davis only scored four points (going 2-of-2 from the field) and only grabbed one rebound. However, he was a team-best +30 for the game and he held UGA’s leading scorer Terry Roberts to 2-of-9 shooting and just four points.

Kario Oquendo led Georgia with 20 points. Jabri Abdur-Rahim added 12 points and Justin Hill had 10 points.

Arkansas will play its next two games on the road starting Saturday (Feb. 25) at Alabama. Tipoff is set for 1 pm (CT) and the game will be televised on ESPN2.

FIRST HALF: Arkansas 43, Georgia: 23

• Arkansas scored first but Georgia answered with an old-fashion 3-point play to lead 3-2. Arkansas then used a 12-3 run to lead 14-6 and never looked back.

• Arkansas led for 19:23 compared to Georgia leading for 20 seconds.

• Arkansas shot 59.4% (19-of-32) while holding Georgia to just 8-of-22 shooting (36.4%).

• Arkansas had 12 assists on 19 made baskets including seven from Anthony Black.

• Seven of eight Razorbacks that played scored in the first half. Ricky Council IV led the Hogs with 14 points off the bench.

• Kario Oquendo led Georgia with 10 points, making three of his team’s eight field goals.

• Arkansas only had two first half turnovers and forced eight.

Ricky Council IV (Andy Hodges / HitThatLine.com)

SECOND HALF: Arkansas 54,  Georgia 42

• Arkansas shot 69.2% from the field – and 72.7% from 3-point range (8-of-11).

• Nick Smith Jr., scored 18 of his 26 in the second half.

• Jordan Walsh scored all nine of his points in the second half and he grabbed six of his seven rebounds.

• Arkansas had 14 assists on 18 made baskets in the second half.

• Arkansas won the second half by 12 but Davonte Davis and Walsh led the Hogs with a +15.

Anthony Black (Andy Hodges / HitThatLine.com)

Hogs Notes

• After a 1-5 start to SEC play, Arkansas has won seven of its last nine SEC games.

• Arkansas’ starting lineup was Anthony Black – Nick Smith Jr. – Davonte Davis – Jordan Walsh – Makhi Mitchell for the second time.

• Arkansas won the tip.

• Davonte Davis scored the first points, a layup at 19:43.

• Ricky Council IV was the first Razorback sub.

• Arkansas is 13-3 all-time versus the Bulldogs in games played in Fayetteville.

• This was the second time this season Smith and Council each scored 20-plus points in a game. The other time was when Council scored 26 and Smith 21 in the win over Oklahoma, which was the last game the duo played both halves of a game.

• Ricky Council IV is the only Razorback to come off the bench and have at least 22 points, four assists and zero turnovers (HogStats.com).

• The five turnovers tie for the fewest by Arkansas in the Musselman era, the fifth-fewest by an Arkansas team in an SEC game and the fewest since having four in a win over Georgia in 2019.

• Arkansas, the SEC leader in field goal percentage, shot 62.8% – its best in an SEC game. Earlier this season, Arkansas shot a then program record in an SEC game by making 62.7% of its shots at Kentucky. Arkansas has shot at least 44% from the field in 12 straight games and has shot at least 50% from the field in four of the last eight games.

• This was the third-straight time and fifth time in the last eight games Arkansas has held its opponent below 40% from the field.

• Makhi Mitchell tied a season-high four assists, which is his high in an SEC game. He was second on the team with a +25.

• Arkansas “only” had four blocked shots, snapping a streak of eight-straight games with at least five rejections.

Information from Arkansas Sports Communications is included in this story.