Mark’s double-double, Menifield lift Hogs past Abilene Christian

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — On the strength of Tramon Mark’s first career double-double (25 points and a career-high 11 rebounds) as well as a spark from reserve guard Keyon Menifield, Arkansas erased a nine-point deficit early in the second half and out-scored Abilene Christian, 55-38, in the second half to claim an 83-73 victory.

Menifield, playing his second game in a Razorback uniform, had 11 points and six rebounds while posting a team-best +21 in the 10-point win. Khalif Battle (+17) added 18 points and Chandler Lawson (+17) grabbed 10 rebounds.

Arkansas committed 12 first-half turnovers, compared to just four by ACU, and trailed 35-28 at the break. The Wildcats ended the first half with a 13-3 run.

Abilene Christian led by as many as nine (37-28) after scoring to start the second half. From that point, Arkansas went on a 19-8 run. Included in the run was a 10-0 spurt that saw Menifield give Arkansas its lead of the half at 44-43 and Battle followed with a 3-pointer. The Wildcats tied the game at 47 before the Razorbacks went on an 8-0 run and never looked back.

Arkansas only committed five second-half turnovers and shot a blistering 64.3% from the field while making 5-of-9 (55.6%) from 3-point range.

ACU was led by Ali Abdou Dibba, who scored 18 points, while Leonard Bettiol had 14 points and Kavion McClain (10 points).

Arkansas will close its nonconference portion of the schedule on Dec. 30 (Sat.) versus UNC Wilmington. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. and the game will be televised on the SEC Network.

Hogs Notes

• Arkansas starters were El Ellis, Davonte Davis, Jeremiah Davenport, Trevon Brazile and Chandler Lawson.

• Arkansas controlled the tip to start the game.

• Razorback Trevon Brazile scored the first points of the game, a tip-in at 19:22.

• Tramon Mark was the first sub for Arkansas.

• This was the second meeting between Arkansas and Abilene Christian, both in the Eric Musselman era. Arkansas won the first meeting, 85-72, almost three years ago to the date on Dec. 22, 2020.

• Arkansas is 6-0 this year when shooting at least 50% from the field and is 5-0 this year when holding opponents below 40% shooting.

• Arkansas scored 62 bench points, the most by the Razorbacks in the Musselman era. Arkansas entered the game 9th in the NCAA in bench points at 35.55 ppg.

• Eric Musselman is 5-0 in games prior to the Christmas break.

Information from Arkansas Communications is included in this story.