Razorbacks finish strong to finally subdue pesky Roadrunners, 75-60

FAYETTEVILLE — Adou Thiero recorded his second career double-double with a career-high 26 points and 10 rebounds and Arkansas outscored UTSA 48-28 in the second half for a 75-60 victory Saturday afternoon at Bud Walton Arena.

Arkansas, down five at halftime, started the second half with an 8-0 run and later had a 9-0 run. Overall, the Razorbacks dominated the start of the second half by outscoring the Roadrunners 21-6 to start the period for a 48-38 lead with 11:47 left. Thiero scored nine in the run and Johnell Davis added eight.

UTSA hung around for the next two minutes until Trevon Brazile threw down an alley-oop from Davis. That put the Hogs up 11 and Arkansas held a double-digit lead the rest of the game.

Davis finished with 13 points (10 in the second half) and Thiero scored 17 of his 26 points in the second half. Boogie Fland dished out seven of the team’s 15 assists.

Primo Spears led UTSA with 19 points and Marcus Millender scored 18.

Arkansas returns to the road to play in the annual Jimmy V Classic in New York City’s Madison Square Garden on Dec. 7. The Razorbacks will face Michigan and play after game one of the Classic – Tennessee vs. Miami. Both games will be televised on ESPN.

Arkansas Razorbacks guard DJ Wagner / Nilsen Roman-HitThatLine.com

FIRST HALF: UTSA 32, Arkansas 27

• Arkansas scored first but neither team led by more than five points until UTSA went on an 8-0 run late to lead by seven (30-23) with 2:09 left. After a Razorback free throw, UTSA took its largest lead of eight points on a dunk by Mo Njie with 25 seconds left.

• D.J. Wagner sank a 3-pointer with four seconds left to provide the halftime score of 32-27 in UTSA’s favor.

• Arkansas only shot 38.5% but did have seven assists on its 10 made baskets. However, Arkansas had eight turnovers while forcing just two.

• Arkansas only committed one foul in the half. It is the fewest in the first half by a Razorback team (records date back to 1981-82 season). The previous low was 6 against Mercer on Nov. 19, 2021. (HogStats)

Arkansas Razorbacks point guard Boogie Fland / Nilsen Roman-HitThatLine.com

SECOND HALF: Arkansas 48 – UTSA 28

• Arkansas opened the second half with an 8-0 run to take a 35-32 lead.

• The Razorbacks shot a blistering 66.7% from the field while holding UTSA to 39.3% shooting.

• Arkansas was also 10-of-11 from the line in the half (14-of-19 overall). UTSA only attempted three second-half free throws (3-of-3) and was just 5-of-5 at the line for the game.

• Adou Thiero did not miss a shot in the second half, going 5-of-5 from the field and 7-of-7 at the line. He added six rebounds and two assists.

Arkansas Razorbacks guard Adou Thiero / Nilsen Roman-HitThatLine.comGame Notes:

• For the first time this year, Arkansas’ starting lineup was Boogie Fland, D.J. Wagner, Johnell Davis, Adou Thiero and Jonas Aidoo.

• UTSA won the opening tip. It was the first time this year an opponent won the tip.

• Jonas Aidoo scored the game’s first points, a dunk at 19:22.

• Karter Knox and Trevon Brazile were Arkansas’ first subs.

• Aidoo nearly got a double-double in his first start with eight points and seven rebounds.

• Arkansas, which entered the game second in the SEC in fewest fouls at 14.9 per game, only committed seven fouls. That is the second-fewest by the Razorbacks in a game since 1981-82.

• Arkansas out-rebounded UTSA, 38-22. UTSA only grabbed four offensive rebounds and had zero second-chance points. The last time an opponent had zero second-chance points was Rice in the 2019-20 season opener (Nov. 15, 2019).

• Arkansas improved 7-0 all-time versus UTSA.

• Adou Thiero has set or tied career highs in every stat category except rebounds each of the nine games this season.