Big Z’s big 3-pointer key part in Hogs holding off Lipscomb in opener
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas let a 15-point, second-half lead get trimmed to four before Zvonimir Ivisic hit a 3-pointer and converted an old-fashioned 3-point play to help the No. 16 Razorbacks pull away and start the John Calipari era on The Hill with a 76-60 victory over Lipscomb Wednesday night at Bud Walton Arena.
Ivisic stopped an 11-0 Bisons’ run with a 3-pointer and, on the next Razorback possession, followed by an old-fashioned 3-point play. After a Lipscomb free throw, Ivisic capped the 8-1 run with a layup with 3:15 left to give the Hogs an 11-point lead and put the game out of reach.
Overall, Arkansas used a 14-1 run over five minutes to turn the four-point lead (60-54) into a 17-point cushion and out-scored Lipscomb 16-4 over the final 7:47 to start the 2024-25 campaign with a win.
Boogie Fland paced the Razorback scoring with 17 points and Johnell Davis added 15. Ivisic finished with 12 points and three blocked shots.
Up next, Arkansas hits the road to face #8 Baylor on Saturday (Nov. 9) in Dallas. Tipoff at American Airlines Center is set for 6:30 pm and will be televised on ESPNU.
FIRST HALF: Arkansas 39, Lipscomb 28
• Arkansas scored first but Lipscomb led by five (17-12) with 10 minutes to go.
• The Razorbacks responded with am 11-0 run, highlighted by back-to-back steals leading to a Trevon Brazile dunk and D.J. Wagner layup.
• Lipscomb kept it close and was down three (29-26) after a 3-pointer by Gyasi Powell with 2:27 left.
• After two Lipscomb free throws with 2:07 left, Arkansas scored the final seven points of the half to lead 39-28. Karter Knox capped the run with a 3-pointer and a dunk.
• Arkansas started slowly on offense, but ended up shooting 52 percent from the field. The Razorback defense forced 11 turnovers thanks to eight steals.
• Johnell Davis led the Hogs with nine points. Boogie Fland had eight and Wagner added seven.
SECOND HALF: Arkansas 37, Lipscomb 32
• Arkansas led by 15 on three occasions in the second half, the last on a Jonas Aidoo jumper with 12 minutes to go before Lipscomb made its 11-0 run.
• Ivisic scored six-straight to end the Bisons’ run. In addition to Ivisic’s eight points in the final 16-4 run to end the game, Thiero had two dunks, Johnell Davis had a layup and Boogie Fland capped the scoring with a layup with 18 seconds left.
• Ivisic led Arkansas with 12 second-half points.
• Arkansas shot 56.7% from the field and held Lipscomb to 35.7% in the second half.
GAME NOTES:
• Arkansas won the opening tip.
• Boogie Fland scored the game’s first points, a jumper from the left elbow at 18:54.
• Boogie Fland is the first Razorback freshman to score the season-opening points for Arkansas since Bobby Portis versus SIU Edwardsville on Nov. 8, 2013.
• Trevon Brazile and Jonas Aidoo were the Razorbacks’ first subs.
• Arkansas improves to 4-0 all-time versus Lipscomb. The Hogs also beat the Bisons, 69-66, last year in North Little Rock.
• Arkansas is now 83-19 all-time in season openers and improves to 92-10 all-time in home openers.
• Arkansas has won 49 of the last 51 season openers and 51 straight home openers.
• John Calipari improves to 26-7 as a collegiate head coach in season openers and 30-3 in home openers.
Information from Arkansas Communications is included in this story.
Razorbacks’ Devin Bale nominated for Burlsworth Trophy for walk-on players
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas redshirt-junior punter Devin Bale has been announced as a nominee for the prestigious Burlsworth Trophy, which is awarded to the most outstanding player who began their career as a walk-on, the organization announced on Tuesday.
The award is named after former Arkansas walk-on and All-American offensive lineman Brandon Burlsworth.
Bale is averaging 48.0 yards per punt while punting for 1,105 yards on 23 punts this season. His 48.0 punting average is the third-best mark nationally among FBS punters. Bale has also helped the Razorbacks rank fourth nationally in net punting average at 44.91.
The Northern Colorado transfer has pinned opponents inside their own 20-yard line five times this season, highlighted by punts downed at the 2-yard line and 1-yard line, respectively, against LSU (Oct. 19) and Oklahoma State (Sept. 7) earlier this season. In addition to pinning opponents deep in their own territory, he has registered nine punts of 50+ yards, highlighted by a 66-yard punt in a 19-14 win over No. 4 Tennessee.
“The walk-on athlete is an integral part of college football, it’s in the very fabric of the game,” said Marty Burlsworth, president and CEO of the Burlsworth Trophy and older brother of Brandon Burlsworth. “All of these nominees have embraced this opportunity and made the very most of it. It’s certainly not an easy path, but through hard work and determination, they have made their dreams come true.”
Without one Division I scholarship offer, Brandon Burlsworth walked on at the University of Arkansas in 1994. He became a three-year starter and was eventually named an All-American in 1998.
Burlsworth was selected as the 63rd overall pick by the Indianapolis Colts in the 1999 NFL draft but was tragically killed in a car accident 11 days later. The Burlsworth Foundation was created in his memory and supports the physical and spiritual needs of children, particularly those children who have limited opportunities.
The Burlsworth Trophy Award Show will honor the three finalists and announce the 2024 winner on Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. at Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville, Arkansas.
Information from Arkansas Communications is included in this story.
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