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Texas A&M game in February officially sold out

FAYETTEVILLE — The best home schedule of the Mike Anderson era has resulted in the third sellout of the year for Arkansas, as the Texas A&M game on Feb. 17 is officially sold out on the primary market.

It marks the third sellout of the year, as Razorback fans packed Verizon Arena to capacity on Dec. 16 and followed with another raucous crowd of nearly 19,000 two weeks later in Bud Walton Arena, when Arkansas knocked off its second top-20 opponent in a five-game span.

Arkansas is unbeaten in Bud Walton Arena this year at 8-0, including victories over No. 14 Minnesota and No. 19 Tennessee, where a combined 36,279 fans packed the building and created one of the best home court advantages in the country.

According to KenPom metrics, the Razorbacks have one of the top-five best home court advantages in the nation.

In Bud Walton Arena this year, Arkansas has a +181 scoring margin, including a 22.6 average margin of victory.

Arkansas opens a two-game homestand Wednesday night when LSU comes to town and fewer than 100 lower-level tickets remain to see the Razorback take on a Tiger team fresh off a road victory over No. 11 Texas A&M.

A new-look Missouri squad comes to Fayetteville this Saturday and under 600 upper-level tickets remain for the second of five Saturday SEC games in Bud Walton Arena.

The Razorbacks return home with a top-20 RPI and top-15 strength of schedule looking to jump back into the win column in what is one of the toughest conferences in college basketball this season.

Entering the week, the Southeastern Conference led the country with 11 top-70 RPI teams, including a nation-best nine teams with top-50 strength of schedules.

Jacobus named to ‘Bowerman’ preseason watch list

NEW ORLEANS — Two-time NCAA champion pole vaulter Lexi (Weeks) Jacobus has been named to The Bowerman 2018 Preseason Watch List, announced Monday afternoon by the USTFCCCA.

Jacobus is one of eight student-athletes from the Southeastern Conference, including Mikiah Brisco (LSU), Mady Fagan (Georgia), Sydney McLaughlin (Kentucky), Keturah Orji (Georgia), Raven Saunders (Ole Miss), Karissa Schweizer (Missouri) and Sammy Watson (Texas A&M) to be featured on the prestigious list of 10.

A four-time first team All-American, Jacobus returns this season from a 2017 campaign which saw her vault to a silver medal at the SEC Indoor Championships, a gold medal at the SEC Outdoor Championships and a silver medal at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.

She holds a personal best in the event of 4.70m/15-5, the No. 2 mark in program history and a clearance which earned her an Olympic berth during her freshman season in 2016.

In addition to Jacobus, Razorbacks’ senior combined events performer and seven-time All-American Taliyah Brooks is received votes for the Preseason Watch List. The next Watch List will be announced on February 7.

The Bowerman 2018 Preseason Watch List

Mikiah Briscoe, LSU (Sprints/Hurdles)
Maggie Ewen, Arizona State (Throws)
Mady Fagan, Georgia (High Jump)
Lexi Jacobus, Arkansas (Pole Vault)
Sydney McLaughlin, Kentucky (Sprints/Hurdles)
Keturah Orji, Georgia (Jumps)
Raven Saunders, Ole Miss (Throws)
Karissa Schweizer, Missouri (Distance)
Ariana Washington, Oregon (Sprints)
Sammy Watson, Texas A&M (Mid-Distance)

Also Receiving Votes:

Taliyah Brooks (Arkansas), Jasmine Camacho-Quinn(Kentucky), Hannah Cunliffe (Oregon), Kendall Ellis (Southern California), Ednah Kurgat (New Mexico)

Cosper’s double-double not enough against Tide

FAYETTEVILLE — Devin Cosper collected her seventh career double-double against Alabama on Sunday, but it wasn’t enough.

The Crimson Tide led most of the way and hit free throws for an 83-76 win Sunday at Bud Walton Arena.

Arkansas trailed for much of the game and was down three points, 32-29, at the half

They rallied with a big third quarter outscoring Bama, 26-18, to lead 55-50 at the end of the frame.

Cosper dropped in 24 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, going 12-for-12 from the line but it was enough as Arkansas (10-6, 1-2 SEC) dropped a second straight SEC game. The Crimson Tide improved to 12-4, 2-1 SEC.

Alabama turned up the offensive intensity and got to the line, going 20-for-25 from the bonus stripe to come from behind in the final frame.

In addition to Cosper, Arkansas got double figures from Malica Monk with 21 points and Jailyn Mason with 12 points.

Notes
• Cosper was in double figures in the first half with 10 points in the first 20 minutes.
• Cosper scored 24 points … her sixth career 20+ point game.
• Cosper had a career-best 12-for-12 night from the line.
• Malica Monk finished with 21 points … her 14th game in double figures this year and her seventh game with 20+ points.
• Jailyn Mason scored 12 points … her ninth double figure scoring game of the year and her third consecutive.

Up Next
Arkansas plays four of its next five games on the road. The Razorbacks have back-to-back SEC road contests at Georgia (Jan. 11) and at Auburn (Jan. 14). They host Florida ((Jan. 18) and again go back-to-back with games at Missouri (Jan. 21) and at South Carolina (Jan 25).

Neighbors, Cosper after Razorbacks drop one to Tide

Arkansas coach Mike Neighbors and Devin Cosper talked about the close loss to Alabama on Sunday afternoon.

Alabama coach talks about road win over Hogs

Alabama coach Kristy Curry talked with the media after the Crimson Tide’s 83-76 win over Arkansas on Sunday afternoon.

KNWA VIDEO: Anderson on ‘disappointing loss’

VIDEO COURTESY OF KNWA

Arkansas coach Mike Anderson talks about the “disappointing loss” to Auburn on the road Saturday.

Hogs’ attempted comeback falls short at Auburn

AUBURN, Ala. — After a slow start on the road Saturday, Arkansas fell to the Auburn Tigers 88-77, after its second-half comeback fell short.

Down by as many as 21, Arkansas used a 19-5 run midway through the second half to cut the Auburn lead to seven. That was as close as Arkansas would get.

Auburn hit its first shot from deep to start the game and continued to roll from there. The Tigers sank their four shot attempts of the contest to take a 10-2 lead and later expanded it to as many as 16.

Arkansas clawed back to 11, prior to Auburn closing the half on a 6-0 run to take their largest lead at that point of the game to the break, up 47-30.

Arkansas shot well from inside the arc, but was not very successful from beyond. The Razorbacks shot just 1-of-9 (.111) from deep in the opening period compared to 12-of-22 (.545) from inside the arc.

On the other hand, Auburn shot 7-of-13 (.538) from three and 12-of-23 (.522) from inside the arc.

The Hogs only made three in the first half came from senior guard Anton Beard, who led Arkansas at the break with nine points on 4-of-8 shooting.

Arkansas came out the locker room on a 4-0 run to cut the Auburn lead to 13.

The Tigers would stretch it back to 17, before senior guard Jaylen Barford would take over for Arkansas. Barford would score seven of Arkansas’ next nine points to chip the deficit to 11.

Arkansas would use a 14-2 run to cut the Auburn lead to seven, but that is as close as the Razorbacks would get.

Barford led the Razorbacks with 21 points, his sixth 20-point effort of the season. Barford has 11 career 20-point games, eight coming away from home.

One of the bright spots for Arkansas was its ability to rebound against one of the best rebounding teams in the country. Arkansas out-rebounded the Tigers 35-30, including 9-5 on the offensive end.

Beard finished the game with 11 points, while senior guard Daryl Macon scrapped together 10 of his own, scoring eight in the second half.

The Razorbacks return home on Wednesday, as Arkansas hosts the LSU Tigers (10-4, 1-1) for an 8 p.m. tip on SEC Network.