Hogs go back on road to face Red Raiders in Big 12-SEC Challenge

Who: #13 Texas Tech Red Raiders
What: Arkansas is playing in fifth Big 12/SEC Challenge
When: Saturday – Jan. 26, 2019 – 5 pm
Where: Bud Walton Arena – Fayetteville, Ark.
How (to follow):
• TV: SEC Network (Mike Morgan and Barry Booker)
• Watch ESPN Online
• Radio: ESPN Arkansas 95.3 in the River Valley, 104.3 in Harrison/Mountain Home and 96.3 in Hot Springs(Chuck Barrett and Matt Zimmerman)
• Satellite Radio: Arkansas Broadcast –XM (388), Internet (979)
• Live Stats: Texas Tech Live Stats

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas travels to Lubbock, Texas, to play in the Big 12/SEC Challenge against No. 13 Texas Tech on Saturday.

Tip-off is set for 5 pm and the game will be telecast on ESPN2.

In the 78 previous meetings with the Red Raiders, Arkansas and Texas Tech are all square at 39-39.

The last time the teams met, which was in the 2016 edition of the Big 12/SEC Challenge, the Razorbacks won, 75-68 in overtime. Arkansas has won five of the last six in the series with Texas Tech and 11 of the last 15.

Arkansas is playing in its fifth consecutive Big 12/SEC Challenge. The Razorbacks are 2-2 in the Big 12/SEC Challenge with wins over Texas Tech (2016) and Oklahoma State (2018). Arkansas lost at Iowa State (2015) and at Oklahoma State (2017).

• Arkansas’ current four-game stretch (Jan. 15-Jan. 26) is the toughest in the nation. Arkansas has already played two road games at nationally-ranked opponents (current No. 1 Tennessee and No. 20 Ole Miss). The Razorbacks now play at No. 13 Texas Tech. No other team in the nation will have played three road games versus top 25 teams over this same span.

• Taking it one step further, while LSU was not ranked at the time and counting Texas Tech, four of Arkansas’s last five opponents are currently ranked among the AP Top 25 (No. 25 LSU, No. 1 Tennessee, No. 20 Ole Miss and #13 Texas Tech).

• Arkansas is 2-4 in SEC play through six games and the Razorbacks were in a similar position last year to start the SEC slate. Like last year, the Razorbacks won their SEC opener before falling to 2-4. Arkansas rallied to finish the regular season with a 9-4 record, including a win in the Big 12/SEC Challenge. Arkansas won two games at the SEC Tournament to be one of a league-record eight teams to play in the NCAA Tourney.

• Isaiah Joe ranks seventh in the NCAA in 3-pointers made (3.78 per game) and leads all SEC freshmen in scoring (14.9 ppg), 3-pointers made and 3-point field goal percentage (.447) while ranking second among the league’s rookies in steals. Joe also leads all NCAA freshmen in 3-point field goal percentage while ranking second among NCAA freshmen in 3-pointers made.

• Jalen Harris had six assists and no turnovers versus Missouri, marking the fifth game this season he has not committed a turnover. He ranks fifth in the NCAA and first in the SEC in assist to turnover margin (3.87).

• Arkansas will return to Bud Walton Arena on Tuesday (Jan. 29) to host Georgia. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m.

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Monk, Tolefree pace Razorbacks to 72-61 win over Alabama

Arkansas’ Chelsea Dungee drives around a screen by Bailey Zimmerman against Alabama on Thursday night. PHOTO BY ANDY HODGES | HITTHATLINE.COM

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas junior Alexis Tolefree started fast and senior Malica Monk finished strong leading the Razorback women’s basketball team to a 72-61 win over Alabama in Bud Walton Arena on Thursday.

Arkansas (15-5, 4-2 SEC) has won three in a row after a 39-point second half against the Crimson Tide (10-10, 2-5 SEC).

Arkansas’ Alexis Tolefree goes up for one of her four 3-point goals against Alabama. PHOTO BY ANDY HODGES | HITTHATLINE.COM

Tolefree came out of the gates firing, scoring nine of her 13 points in the first quarter. Monk finished with a team-high 16 points, 11 of which she scored in the second half.

The steady for Arkansas was the play of sophomore Taylah Thomas. Thomas tied her career-high with 15 points and had seven rebounds.

Arkansas jetted out to a 15-3 lead in the first quarter and seemed to be in control from the opening tip but Bama managed to rally and close within four points by the end of the first half.

The Razorbacks took a seven-point, 53-46, lead into the final frame, but Alabama kept hanging around through the first part of the period.

Jailyn Mason drives the baseline against Alabama, but contributed on the boards, grabbing nine rebounds while scoring seven points. PHOTO BY ANDY HODGES | HITTHATLINE.COM

Arkansas stepped on the gas with a 13-2 run while holding the visitors to a 1-for-10 performance stretching the lead to as many as 17 with under a minute to play en route to the victory.

The Razorbacks travel to Florida (5-14, 1-5 SEC) on Sunday and return home hosting Georgia (12-7, 3-3 SEC) on Thursday.

Notes

• Arkansas Starters: Alexis Tolefree, Malica Monk, Kiara Williams, Jailyn Mason, Chelsea Dungee

• The Razorbacks have forced double figure turnovers by their opponent in every game this year.

• Arkansas has won the third quarter 11 times including a 20-17 advantage over Alabama.

• Arkansas has had more or the same number of 3-point field goals in 16 games this season but Alabama had the 10-8 advantage on Thursday.

• Malica Monk has scored in double figures in 16 games … Alexis Tolefree has been in double digits in 12 games … Taylah Thomas has scored double digits in four games.

• Arkansas has won the third quarter 11 times … the fourth quarter 16 times … and the second half 13 times this year.

Neighbors not comfortable until end against Crimson Tide

Arkansas coach Mike Neighbors talked about how Thursday night’s win over Alabama was one of those where he never felt good until very near the final buzzer in the 72-61 win.

Monk, Thomas on Hogs’ 72-61 win over Crimson Tide

Malica Monk had 16 points and four assists in the Razorbacks’ 72-61 win over Alabama while Taylah Thomas came off the bench to have 15 and they talked about the win later.

Curry felt Monk, Tolefree big keys to Arkansas’ big win

Alabama coach Kristy Curry felt Hogs senior point guard Malica Monk was a huge difference down the stretch in the Crimson Tide’s 72-61 loss at Bud Walton on Thursday night.

Van Horn: Bolden sidelined for season with Tommy John surgery

Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn met with the media Thursday and announced pitcher Caleb Bolden will miss the entire season after undergoing surgery.

Anderson on getting confidence boost with win over Missouri

Arkansas coach Mike Anderson talked with the media Thursday about Wednesday night’s win over the Tigers and facing Texas Tech in the SEC-Big 12 Showdown on Saturday.

Razorbacks’ Fletcher, Campbell on baseball season getting close

Arkansas will scrimmage Saturday, Sunday and Monday (Friday’s scrimmage moved due to weather concerns) and Dominic Fletcher and Isaiah Campbell talked about the start of baseball season getting close.

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