Hogs get win in final exhibition tuneup, 88-74

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas concluded exhibition play Friday night, defeating the Missouri Western Griffons 88-74 inside Bud Walton Arena.

With the combination of a slow start offensively by the Razorbacks and hot shooting by the Griffons, Arkansas found itself down as many as eight early.

The Hogs turned up the pressure, creating four turnovers to spark an 11-0 run to take a three-point lead with 7:25 left in the first half.

Arkansas used a 7-0 run to close out the half, as senior guard Jaylen Barford scored five, to hold a 41-35 lead at the break. Barford scored 12 first-half points, while senior guard Daryl Macon led all scorers with 14 of his own.

The Griffons kept the contest close with their three-point shooting, hitting 14 in the contest, going 14-of-27 from behind the arc for an astounding 52 percent.

Missouri Western was able to get within one during the second half but Arkansas never gave up its lead, in large part to its free throw shooting. The Razorbacks went 26-of-31 from the line as a team, as 16 of their final 32 points came from the charity stripe to put the Griffons away.

Freshman big man Daniel Gafford’s presence down low was on full display, as he finished with 15 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the floor, to go along with a game-high eight rebounds and five blocks. Gafford helped Arkansas control the paint, edging the Griffons 34-16 in paint points.

When Arkansas needed to, it created havoc Friday night, forcing 19 turnovers, turning them into 32 points on the other end. The Razorbacks outscored Missouri Western 14-0 on fast break points.

Four Razorbacks finished in double-figures as Barford led the way with 23 and Macon followed with 22, who was a large part in Arkansas’ free throw shooting, going 9-9 from the free throw line. Senior guard Anton Beard also finished in double figures with 12 of his own.

Arkansas opens regular season play next Friday, Nov. 10, as the Razorbacks host the Samford Bulldogs for a 7 p.m. tip off in Bud Walton Arena. The game can be streamed on SEC Network Plus.

Hogs In Exhibitions
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Arkansas improves to 14-0 in exhibition games under head coach Mike Anderson.

 The Razorbacks have won those 14 games by an average of 29.9 points.

 During Anderson’s 15-plus years as a head coach, he is 32-0 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 28 consecutive exhibition games.

Anderson on Hogs’ play in final exhibition tuneup

Arkansas coach Mike Anderson met with the media after the Razorbacks’ 88-74 win over Missouri Western in the final exhibition game of the preseason.

Gafford, Mason on Hogs’ getting win Friday night

Arkansas’ Daniel Gafford and Daryl Macon visited with the media after the Hogs’ 88-74 win over Missouri Western in the final exhibition game Friday night.

Weiberg talks about Hogs turning up defensive pressure

Missouri Western coach Matt Wieberg talked about how when they needed to, the Razorbacks turned up the pressure and pulled away.

Cosper’s 31 lifts Hogs to win in only exhibition

FAYETTEVILLE — Devin Cosper scored 31, including 16 in the fourth quarter, leading Arkansas to an 82-74 win over Northeastern State in exhibition action in Bud Walton Arena on Thursday night.

Cosper’s 31 points led all scorers and she was joined in double figures by newcomer Raven Northcross-Baker with 17 points and junior Malica Monk with 14 points in the win.

The game is the only exhibition contest for the Razorbacks who open the regular season on Friday, Nov. 10, hosting Sam Houston State.

The tip is set for 10:30 a.m. as part of Elementary Day.

• Arkansas went on a 12-0 run in 1:56 to take a 14-4 lead at the media timeout of the first quarter

• Newcomer Raven Northcross-Baker hit her first three shots – all 3’s

• Raven Northcross-Baker finished with 12 points in the first quarter and 17 points in the game

• Arkansas held NSU without a field goal for more than three minutes in second quarter

• Arkansas trailed 38-35 at the half

• Devin Cosper hits a layup and was fouled, making the FT to tie the game in the 3Q

• Arkansas never trailed in the fourth quarter

• Devin Cosper scored 16 points in the final 10 minutes of the game

• Arkansas committed just nine turnovers in the contest

• Malica Monk played 34 minutes, scored 14 points had seven assists and just one turnover

The RiverHawks caught fire in the second quarter outscoring Arkansas 24-15 as their 3-point shooting heated up.

NSU finished the night with 13 3’s but key baskets from Cosper and sophomore Jailyn Mason swung the momentum in Arkansas’ favor.

Arkansas took a two-point lead into the fourth frame after a layup with 11 seconds on the clock in the prior period.

That is when Cosper took over, hitting 6-of-9 from the floor including a 4-for-4 performance from distance. Mason added nine points as the duo played the entire 10 minutes of the frame.

The Razorbacks stretched the lead to as much as 11 before winning by eight when the final buzzer sounded.