FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas' alarm gave the impression to be ringing at halftime Thursday evening, outscoring Abilene Christian 55-38 within the last 20 minutes for an 83-73 victory at Bud Walton Enviornment.
The Hogs trailed 35-28 on the break. Nonetheless, the Hogs got here out quick within the second half. Abilene Christian led 43-42 for the ultimate time with 15:26 left within the recreation. Eric Musselman opted for a giant change within the second half with 4 guards, which meant Trevon Brazile didn't play a lot.
“Stink, stink and extra,” Musselman stated. “The group of six guys that performed the final 16 minutes of the sport performed with vitality. It’s a group that practiced with vitality. The primary half was not good on both aspect of the basketball. As a staff we have to enhance in loads of areas, as I stated, and the blokes want to enhance individually. We want guys to have the ability to put the ball on the board and beat folks off the dribble. An excessive amount of standing within the first half.
“We additionally modified what we operated. We launched a few of our personal [Milwaukee] Bucks assault, some extensive contact fist, some extensive contact maintain. I assumed it actually helped us. After which we performed a bit of ball. Devo (Davis) in 4. Tonight he guarded the place in addition to anybody on our listing. Perhaps higher.”
A part of the second-half group was Musselman's determination to begin Keyon Menifield Jr. within the second half. In simply his second recreation of the season since being declared eligible, Menifield performed 28 minutes and added 11 factors, six rebounds and two assists. He had 4 substitutions, however just one within the second half.
“Keyon simply performs onerous,” Musselman stated. “We requested our guards to combat again. Keyon comes into the sport weighing lower than me and has six rebounds, 5 defensive rebounds. 4 out of eight (taking pictures). It nonetheless has loads of rust on it. The ball is shifting, the tempo of the sport is quicker, 55 factors within the second half in comparison with 28 within the first half. I believe we doubled our factors by enjoying with much more tempo.
“Look, we had a recreation tonight the place we had been down by seven at halftime and we had a plus-21 participant when he was within the recreation. That is Keyon Manfield. Plus 21 within the recreation you're down seven on the half. So actually pleased with it.
“I assumed (Jalen) Graham got here in and gave us good minutes. I assumed Chandler (Lawson) was actually good inside along with his 10 rebounds and naturally (Tramon) Mark and (Khalif) battled off the bench … I imply there simply aren't going to be many video games the place you see a staff rating 62 factors. Bench.”
Menifield didn’t come off the court docket within the second half.
“I assumed he was nice,” Musselman stated. “Like I stated, plus-21. We had some guys that had been within the pink tonight. I assumed he was superb. I assumed Battle performed nice, and T-Mark, I assumed these guys did an ideal job within the backcourt. I assumed Devo Davis was phenomenal. We must always have guarded him 21 and 21 finally ends up 3 on 11. Within the first half Devo guarded him the entire first half and did an ideal job on him. Then we moved him to the 4. Like I stated, his put up protection was pretty much as good as any of our guys.”
Along with Menifield off the bench, Mark led the Hogs with 25 factors, 11 rebounds and two assists. Battle added 18 factors, 4 rebounds and one steal. Musselman praised each Mark and Battle.
“He was superb,” Musselman stated. “The pullover, superior. He didn't pressure any threes. He solely took two triples, he makes them each.
“Battle solely takes 4 triples, he makes three of them. Each had been actually highly effective. I assumed Battle had his greatest defensive recreation of the season. And it wasn't even shut. I assumed he took a stand. He labored in coaching this week and it correlated with the sport.”
Within the first half, Arkansas continued to show the ball over. They corrected that drawback within the second half and ended the sport by 17. Musselman talked about correcting that drawback at halftime.
“It's onerous to simulate as a result of what they're doing is leaping the passing lanes,” Musselman stated. “They’re one of many high steal groups within the nation. They’ve nice pace. They’ve excessive expectations. They’re very properly coached defensively to be a disruptive staff. We had been simply too careless. We’ve to work on dealing with the ball. I’ve to enhance. Michael Musselman needs to be higher. Todd Lee. All of us want to enhance. So are our gamers.
“Our gamers must get within the fitness center and work on ball management. Not all of us, however we’ve some guys who must work on their perimeter abilities and learn to get open whenever you're denied. We don't have sufficient guys who perceive that after I go the dribble to Mike Cawood, he has to set his man as much as obtain, obtain and get open. So these are the areas that we're going to proceed to work on and discuss and get higher at. The nice factor is that we’ve recognized some areas that we have to enhance. We’ve recognized them very clearly. The worst half is when you’ll be able to't work out the place you stink.'
Arkansas shot 52 % (27-52) from the sphere, 47 % (7-15) from three-point vary and 79 % (22-28) from the charity stripe. Arkansas received the battle of the boards 45-34.
Arkansas (8-4) has yet another recreation earlier than they start SEC play Jan. 6 towards Auburn. Arkansas will host UNC Wilmington on Saturday, December thirtieth at 4:00 PM at Bud Walton Enviornment and televised on the SEC Community.
