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The Morning Rush is LIVE. Arkansas dominates UNC Asheville last night
Smith out; Graham, Pinion lead Razorbacks past UNC-Asheville
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Jalen Graham and Joseph Pinion combined for 26 points off the bench and Arkansas scored 32 points off 20 UNC Asheville turnovers for an 85-51 victory Wednesday night at Bud Walton Arena.
Before the game, the UA announced starting guard Nick Smith, Jr., will be out “indefinitely” for what was described as “knee management.”
Graham scored a game-high 16 points (8-of-10 FG) to lead a group of four Razorbacks in double figures. Ricky Council IV added 12 points while Pinion and Anthony Black each scored 10 points.
UNCA scored the first points of the game before the Razorbacks made their first seven shots from the field to race out to a 14-4 lead and never looked back.
For the second straight game, Arkansas forced at least 20 turnovers, marking the fifth time this season. The Razorbacks had 15 steals, one off the season-high from last time versus Bradley. (NOTE: The 16 steals versus Bradley were the most by any Musselman-coached collegiate team.)
Five Razorbacks had multiple steals including three each by Makhi Mitchell and Kamani Johnson while Jordan Walsh, Black and Graham each had two. Johnson also pulled down a game-high seven rebounds. Makhel Mitchell contributed three blocked shots and Makhi Mitchell had two.
UNCA was led by Tajion Jones’ 14 points. The Bulldogs were held to 30 points below their season average and their big man Drew Pember, who is among the NCAA top 25 in six categories, was just 1-of-7 for five points with four rebounds.
Arkansas opens SEC play on Dec. 28 (Wednesday) at LSU. The game will be televised on ESPN2 and tipoff is set for 8 p.m.
FIRST HALF: Arkansas 44, UNCA 24
• UNCA scored first but Arkansas made the next two baskets and never relinquished the lead.
• Arkansas made its first seven shots of the game and used a 14-2 run to take a 28-9 lead.
• Ricky Council IV and Jalen Graham each led all players with 10 points.
• Kamani Johnson led all players with six first half rebounds.
• Arkansas shot 63% from the field while holding the Bulldogs to 33.3% shooting.
• Arkansas had 11 assists on 17 made baskets with seven steals.
• UNCA only made eight baskets and committed 11 first-half turnovers.
• Arkansas’ 44 first-half points were its most this season and now has scored at least 40 points in the first half four times. (43 vs Oklahoma, 41 vs South Dakota State and 40 vs San Jose State)
SECOND HALF: Arkansas: 41, UNCA 27
• Arkansas outscored the Bulldogs 13-2 on points off turnovers in the period.
• Pinion led Arkansas with seven points and three assists in the second half.
• After going just 7-of-12 at the line in the first half, Arkansas was 9-of-10 at the stripe in the second.
• Arkansas only had three turnovers in the second half with eight steals.
Game Notes
• This was the first meeting between Arkansas and UNC Asheville
• Arkansas’ starting lineup was Anthony Black – Davonte Davis – Ricky Council IV – Jordan Walsh – Makhi Mitchell for the sixth game. The lineup is X4-1X and is the most common fivesome this season.
• UNCA won the tip.
• UNCA’s Trent Stephney scored the game’s first points, at 19:33. Makhi Mitchell scored the Razorbacks’ first points on a putback at 18:26.
• Kamani Johnson was the first Razorback sub.
• Joseph Pinion had career highs in points (10), assists (3) and minutes (18:40).
• UNCA entered the game 28th in the NCAA in scoring (81.8 ppg), 20th in FG% (.499), 21st in 3PT% (.396) and 66th in 3’s made (8.8 avg.).
• UNCA’s Drew Pember entered the game 1st in the NCAA in FT made, 4th in FT attempts, 6th in blocked shots (2.92), 11th in defensive rebs (7.75 avg), 22nd in overall rebs (9.5 avg) and 26th in scoring (19.7 ppg).
• Ricky Council IV and Devo Davis each played all 20 minutes of the first half. It marked the 10th time this season Council has played all 20 minutes in a half, and it was the second time for Davis to do so.
• This was the fifth time Arkansas has emptied the bench and played all available healthy players.
• Arkansas has won 16 straight in Bud Walton Arena and 35 straight non-conference games in the building.
• Arkansas is 11-1 to start the season. It marks the 22nd time in 100 years of basketball to start at least 11-1. The last time Arkansas started 12-1 was Coach Muss’ first year (2019-20).
Information from Arkansas Communications is included in this story.
Razorbacks’ Sam Pittman on adding more players on Wednesday’s signing day
Hogs add 19 from high school and four transfers to roster and says they aren’t finished before February’s final day.
High School Signees
Isaiah Augustave, RB, 6-2, 195, Naples, Fla.
Jaylon Braxton, CB, 5-11, 170, Frisco (Lone Star), Texas
Luke Brown, OL, 6-5, 315, Paris (Harris County), Tenn.
Carson Dean, DE, 6-4, 235, Carrolton (Hebron), Texas
Davion Dozier, WR, 6-3, 195, Moody, Ala.
Christian Ford, S, 6-0, 185, McKinney, Texas
Ian Geffrard, OL, 6-6, 350, Mableton (Whitefield Academy), Ga.
Dylan Hasz, S, 5-11, 180, Bixby, Okla.
Luke Hasz, TE, 6-3, 245, Bixby, Okla.
Kaleb James, DL, 6-4, 250, Mansfield, Texas
RJ Johnson, ATH, 6-1, 175, McDonough (Eagles Landing Christian Academy), Ga.
TJ Metcalf, S, 6-1, 185, Pinson Valley, Ala.
Paris Patterson, OL, 6-6, 345, East St. Louis, Ill.
Quincy Rhodes, DE, 6-7, 255, North Little Rock
Alex Sanford, LB, 6-3, 240, Oxford, Miss.
Malachi Singleton, QB, 6-1, 225, Kennesaw (North Cobb), Ga.
Brad Spence, DE, 6-2, 225, Houston (Klein Forest)
Joey Su’a, OL, 6-4, 320, Bentonville
Dallas Young, CB, 5-11, 185, Gardendale, Ala.
Transfers
Andrew Armstrong, WR, 6-4, 189, Dallas (Texas A&M-Commerce)
Josh Braun, OT, 6-6, 335, Live Oak, Fla. (Florida)
Jacolby Criswell, QB, 6-1, 225, Morrilton (North Carolina)
John Morgan, DE, 6-2, 265, Upper Marlboro, Md. (Pittsburgh)
Halftime Pod Presented By Eastside Liquor- December 21, 2022
ESP Craziness; WBB Falters in 4th QTR; Franco Harris dies?!? Correa to the Mets
Guests- Grant Hall, Alyssa Orange & Bill King
Halftime is LIVE. Early signing period starts today
11:15 – Grant Hall
12:15 – Alyssa Orange
1:15 – Bill King
ESP Craziness; WBB Falters in 4th QTR; Franco Harris dies?!? Correa to the Mets
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Bud Light Next Morning Rush Podcast: NIL and Early National Period
Tye, Tommy and Chuck on early national period, UNC Asheville tonight and more!
The Gimme the HAWGS Chuck Podcast E44: Early National Signing Period begins today
Presented by Weichert Realtors – The Griffin Company
Hogs’ Hudson Henry, Beaux Limmer after bowl practice Tuesday morning
Razorbacks tight end on new position coach and center is comfortable moving over from guard for AutoZone Liberty Bowl.
Razorbacks finally drop a game, falling to Oregon
SAN DIEGO — No. 17-19 Arkansas has finally lost a game.
No. 16/15 Oregon put the Razorbacks’ undefeated start to a halt Tuesday afternoon at the San Diego Invitational.
In a highly competitive game, the Hogs led by seven points with 8:30 left in the game, but Oregon made big shots down the stretch and the Hogs didn’t make a field goal for over six minutes, leading to an 85-78 loss.
Samara Spencer continued her great play with her first career double-double off 20 points and a career-high 10 assists, while Erynn Barnum also logged a 20-piece with 22 points and nine boards.
Makayla Daniels helped the Razorbacks get on the board first with a jumper, but after a scoring drought for over two minutes, Oregon took the 10-4 lead with dominance in the paint halfway through the first quarter.
Barnum scored two straight baskets to pull the Razorbacks within a bucket at the media timeout, 10-8, and then Spencer tied the game with a layup. Barnum was on fire, registering back-to-back 3-pointers, while Rylee Langerman knocked down one of her own.
Oregon would tie the game at 22 following a 5-0 run, but a Barnum layup and Langerman free throw put the Razorbacks up at the first break, 25-22. Barnum logged 14 of her 22 points in the first frame.
Arkansas didn’t score for the first four minutes and some change of the second quarter until Barnum logged her third 3-pointer of the game and Daniels added a layup. At the media timeout, the Razorbacks were ahead, 30-24.
Oregon came out of the media timeout with a 5-1 run, but back-to-back Maryam Dauda baskets put the Razorbacks out of a hole, forcing Oregon to take a timeout with Arkansas ahead, 35-29. Oregon’s timeout was beneficial, as a 6-0 run tied the score at 35 with a minute and some change to play in the half.
After a handful of fouls called on the Razorbacks in the final few minutes of the half, Oregon was able to shoot some freebies to take the lead. A Spencer jumper closed the Razorbacks in within a point, as the Ducks led 38-37 at the half.
Daniels helped the Razorbacks go back ahead with a layup out of the half, but after a scoring drought for over two minutes, Oregon had the five-point edge. A 3-pointer by Daniels inched the Razorbacks ahead by two, 44-42, four minutes into the second half.
Just before the media timeout, Daniels tied the game at 48 with the Razorbacks’ eighth of 12 triples of the ballgame.
The game tied twice more until Arkansas closed out the quarter on a 7-2 run courtesy of Saylor Poffenbarger’s layup and 3-pointer, as well as Dauda’s second chance layup as the buzzer sounded. Arkansas led 59-55 going into the fourth quarter.
Langerman drilled down a 3-pointer for Arkansas’ first score of the fourth quarter.
Oregon cut the lead to three on the next possession with a basket, but Arkansas sparked a 4-0 run thanks to a Barnum free throw and Daniels triple off a Ducks’ turnover.
Oregon called a timeout and Arkansas had the 66-59 edge with 8:22 remaining in the game. The Ducks outscored the Razorbacks 30-19 in the fourth, while holding the Razorbacks to zero field goals for a six-minute stretch.
Arkansas suffered its first loss of the season, 85-78.
Game Highlights
• Barnum led the Razorbacks with 22 points, her third 20-piece of the season and in her career. She nailed down a career-high three 3-pointers, while adding nine rebounds
• Spencer logged a near triple-double off 20 points, a career-high 10 assists and seven rebounds, while playing 39 minutes. She became the first Razorback since Destiny Slocum in 2021 to log a double-double in points and assists
• Daniels continues to make a big impact in her return to the floor with 15 points, nine of those points coming off 3-pointers and three boards
• Poffenbarger registered her fifth 10+ rebound game of the year with 11 boards along with five points
• Langerman recorded seven points and seven rebounds across 25 minutes played off the bench
• Dauda was also big off the bench with six points
• Chrissy Carr and Emrie Ellis were the lone Razorbacks with a positive +/-, while Poffenbarger and Dauda were even
Next Game
Arkansas will play No. 3 Ohio State or South Florida on Wednesday at 3 p.m. CST to wrap up the San Diego Invitational and non-conference play.
Hogs’ Simeon Blair, Cam Ball on what to expect for youngsters in bowl
Razorbacks’ defensive players on early impressions of new defensive coordinator Travis Williams before AutoZone Liberty Bowl.
