Connect with us

Men's Basketball

Seniors go out strong, promising Hogs ‘going dancing’

In their final game in Bud Walton Arena, the Razorbacks trio of seniors accomplished what they had hoped for all along — all but securing Arkansas’ return to the NCAA Tournament with an 85-67 win over Georgia.

Published

on

Dusty Hannahs pumped his fist, Manuale Watkins raised his arms and Moses Kingsley hugged Arkansas coach Mike Anderson on his way off the court.

In their final game in Bud Walton Arena, the Razorbacks trio of seniors accomplished what they had hoped for all along — all but securing Arkansas’ return to the NCAA Tournament with an 85-67 win over Georgia to close out the regular season on Saturday.

“We just want to let you all know, we’re going dancing,” Hannahs excitedly told the fans at midcourt afterward.

The Razorbacks (23-8, 12-6 SEC) appeared on their way to missing the NCAAs for a fifth time in six years after back-to-back losses to Missouri and Vanderbilt early last month.

However, Saturday’s win was their sixth in the last seven games since those defeats — likely giving Arkansas its second NCAA Tournament appearance in the last three seasons thanks to its late-season surge.

Hannahs, Kingsley and Watkins combined for 42 points in their final home game for the Razorbacks, with Hannahs and Kingsley finishing with 15 each and Watkins 12. Junior Jaylen Barford added 15 points for Arkansas, which has now won 12 conference games for only the second time in 22 seasons and rebounded from a disappointing 16-16 record a season ago.

“We’ve done what we’re supposed to do,” Anderson said when asked if he felt Arkansas had earned an NCAA berth. “We’ve done what we’re supposed to do.”

Both teams entered Saturday looking to close out the regular season with a much-needed boost to their NCAA Tournament chances, with Arkansas 28th in the NCAA’s RPI ratings and Georgia 52nd.

The Razorbacks hit just five of their first 15 shots to open the game, falling behind 21-14, but they closed the first half by hitting nine of their last 13 shots to take a 38-37 halftime edge. Their hot shooting continued in the second half, with Arkansas hitting 55.7 percent (34 of 61) of its shots for the game.

The Bulldogs (18-13, 9-9) led by as many as seven points in the first half, but they were outscored 47-30 in the second. J.J. Frazier led the way with 24 points, hitting all 13 of his free throws, while Derek Ogbeide added 12 in the loss.

Georgia shot just 31.1 percent (19 of 61) in the game, 8 of 32 (25 percent) in the second half against an Arkansas team Bulldogs coach Mark Fox said “no doubt” had earned its NCAA Tournament spot — even before Saturday’s win.

“Arkansas is a very good club, and we could not find a lineup that could both score and get stops,” Fox said. “They’ve got a very good team, and we certainly couldn’t slow them down.”

BIG PICTURE

Georgia: The Bulldogs entered the game having won five of their last six games to help their postseason chances, but they now likely have to win the SEC Tournament next week to secure an NCAA berth. Under Fox, Georgia has won at least 20 games in each of the last three seasons — the first time the school has done that in its history.

Arkansas: The Razorbacks missed the NCAA Tournament in Anderson’s first three seasons, but they appear now to have all but secured the school’s second appearance in the last three seasons. Arkansas’ win followed a familiar trend on Saturday, with the Razorbacks outscoring Georgia by one point in the first half and 17 in the second. They entered game having outscored their opponents by one point in the first half for the season and 180 points in the second.

SENIOR STRENGTH

Hannahs, Kingsley and Watkins were each honored during a Senior Day ceremony before the game. The three then did everything they could to ensure they ended their Bud Walton Arena careers with a win, combining to hit 16 of 28 shots (57.1 percent).

UP NEXT

Both teams next play at the SEC Tournament, which begins on Wednesday.

Advertisement

2024 Razorbacks Football

Thu, Aug 29vs UAPB (Little Rock)W, 70-0
Sat, Sep 7@ Oklahoma StateL, 31-39 2OT
Sat, Sep 14vs UABW, 37-27
Sat, Sep 21@ AuburnW, 24-14
Sat, Sep 28vs Texas A&M (Arl)L, 21-17
Sat, Oct 5vs TennesseeW, 19-14
Sat, Oct 19vs LSUL, 34-10
Sat, Oct 26@ Mississippi StateW, 58-25
Sat, Nov 2vs Ole MissL, 63-35
Sat, Nov 16vs Texas11:00 AM
Sat, Nov 23vs Louisiana TechTBD
ESPN+/SECN+
Sat, Nov 30@ MissouriTBD
Advertisement

Advertisement

2024 High School Rankings

Following is the Arkansas Sports Media High School Football Poll including the Overall Top 10, the top five in Classes 7A, 6A, 5A, 4A, 3A and 2A, plus the top three in the 8-man division, as voted by a panel of sports media from around the state for the week ending August 24. Ranking is given with first-place votes received, records, total points and ranking from last week's poll:
OVERALLRecordPtsPrv
1.Bryant (18)8-02521
2.Conway (6)8-02302
3.Greenwood (2)8-02103
4.Little Rock Parkview7-11714
5.Bentonville5-31416
6.Benton7-11265
7.Fayetteville6-21008
8.Pulaski Academy6-2757
9.Rogers5-3459
10.Shiloh Christian6-24010
Others receiving votes: Marion 13, Valley View 9, Joe T Robinson 8, Mountain Home 4, Cabot 3, Elkins 3.
CLASS 7A
1.Bryant (20)8-01241
2.Conway (6)8-01052
3.Bentonville5-3753
4.Fayetteville6-2455
5.Pulaski Academy6-2354
Others receiving votes: Rogers 5.
CLASS 6A
1.Greenwood (26)8-01301
2.Benton7-11022
3.Shiloh Christian6-2713
4.Marion7-1524
5.Mountain Home7-131
Others receiving votes: Little Rock Catholic 4.
CLASS 5A
1.Little Rock Parkview (23)7-11271
2.Joe T Robinson7-1902
3.Valley View (3)8-0803
4.Hot Springs Lakeside7-1484
5.Farmington7-130
Others receiving votes: Camden Fairview 4, Maumelle 4, Morrilton 3, Greenbrier 2, Harding Academy 1.
CLASS 4A
1.Elkins (19)8-01161
2.Arkadelphia (5)6-2792
3.Little Rock Mills (1)8-0703
4.Warren6-2404
5.Malvern (1)8-0315
Others receiving votes: Dardanelle 22, Southside Batesville 11, Mena 8, Bauxite 7, DeWitt 4, Highland 2.
CLASS 3A
4.Bismarck (15)8-01054
5.Fordyce (4)8-0765
Prescott (3)7-1531t
1.Osceola (2)6-149
3.Mayflower (1)8-036
Others receiving votes: Booneville (1) 31, Rivercrest 19, Mansfield 14, Charleston 4, Rison 3.
CLASS 2A
1.Carlisle (21)8-01211
2.Conway Christian (4)8-01042
3.Des Arc7-1663
4.Bigelow (1)6-2455
5.Murfreesboro6-230
Others receiving votes: Marked Tree 10, Mineral Springs 6, Junction City 5, Cross County 1, Mount Ida 1, Poyen 1
8-MAN SANCTIONED
1.Strong-Huttig (25)5-0761
2.Midland (1)7-0502
3.Cedar Ridge7-1253
Others receiving votes: Rector 5.

© COPYRIGHT 2017-24 BY PEARSON BROADCASTING. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
ESPN ARKANSAS 99.5 IN FAYETTEVILLE, 95.3 IN THE RIVER VALLEY, 96.3 IN HOT SPRINGS, 104.3 IN HARRISON-MOUNTAIN HOME.