Barford, Macon lead Hogs to win over Bronchos

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas opened exhibition play Friday with a 78-66 win over Central Oklahoma.

Arkansas opened the game on a 7-0 run to grab the early lead, only to be matched by seven straight by the Bronchos, tying the contest at the 14:01 mark of the first half. Senior guard Daryl Macon scored six straight, part of the Razorbacks 8-0 run, to stretch it back out to a 15-7 Arkansas lead.

After missing its first three field goal attempts, Arkansas sank eight of its next 11, including four straight from deep to extend its lead to double-digits. The Bronchos kept interesting y, never letting Arkansas build a lead larger than 13 in the first half. UCO managed to bring Arkansas’ lead to eight, before settling for a 10-point halftime spread.

Senior guard Jaylen Barford led all scorers in the first half, tallying 15 of his 19 points. Macon was the only other player in double-figures by the intermission with 10 of his own. Barford finished the contest with 19 points, a game-high six assists and five rebounds. Macon finished with a game-high 23 points on 7-of-12 shooting, including making all seven free throws.

The Razorbacks opened the second half on a 7-0 run to stretch their lead to 17 at 52-35. Despite the quick start, Arkansas struggled from the floor in the second half, going 11-of-25.

It allowed the Bronchos to keep up. With just over a minute left in the game, UCO cut the Arkansas lead to six at 72-66, before Arkansas scored six straight to close the game out, forcing two late turnovers.

The Razorback defense forced 17 turnovers, as big man Daniel Gafford had a game-high three steals. Gafford finished with eight points in seven rebounds, four offensive, in his first action as a Razorback.

Senior guard Anton Beard was the third Razorback in double figures, as the North Little Rock native finished with 12 points and three assists. The Razorbacks distributed the ball well, totaling 20 assists.

Five Razorbacks brought down at least five boards, as senior forward Trey Thompson led the way with eight and sophomore forward Adrio Bailey tied Gafford with seven. Sophomore guard C.J. Jones posted eight points and tallied five rebounds.

Arkansas returns to action next Friday, as the Razorbacks close out exhibition play against Missouri Western inside Bud Walton Arena at 7 p.m.

Hogs In Exhibitions

• Arkansas improves to 13-0 in exhibition games under head coach Mike Anderson.
• The Razorbacks have won those 13 games by an average of 31.1 points.
• During Anderson’s 15-plus years as a head coach, he is 31-0 all-time in exhibitions.
• Dating back to a 74-47 victory over Texas A&M Commerce to open the 2004-05 season, Arkansas has won 27 consecutive exhibition games.