FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – After sleepwalking via all the first half, Arkansas lastly figured it out within the second half. Khalif Battle and Tramon Mark have been key to an 83-73 victory over Abilene Christian in entrance of a small crowd Thursday evening.
Trailing by seven on the break, the Razorbacks lastly proved they’d some semblance of a pulse on offense. A large-open nook three by Battle minimize the result in simply 43-40. Battle and Mark, the one two gamers who confirmed the flexibility to offer constant capturing, spurred the Hogs on a 10-0 run to take a 47-44 lead. They scored 31 of the Razorbacks' 55 factors within the second half
Arkansas got here out flat-footed once more and by no means discovered its footing throughout the first half. The Razorbacks completed the opening 20 minutes with extra turnovers (12) than subject targets (9) as Musselman grew more and more discouraged all through the primary half.
Andy Hodges / allHOGS Photos
“It stunk,” coach Eric Musselman stated of the primary half. “Stink, stink and stink some extra.”
Regardless of by no means capturing nicely, the Razorbacks used stable protection to take an early 14-7 lead as Abilene Christian missed 13 of its first 15 pictures from the ground. Chandler Lawson was an element early with an expansion and top-of-the-key three to offer a sparse early offense.
Regardless of grabbing 23 rebounds within the first half in comparison with the Wildcats' 16, a mix of offensive fouls and Abilene Christian's lively protection leaping in passing lanes meant the Wildcats have been the staff with 10 further subject purpose makes an attempt within the first half.
The visiting staff's capturing struggles didn’t proceed as they slowly labored their method again into the sport and went 10-1 to take a seven-point lead. Leonardo Bettiol supplied a presence inside whereas guard Ali Dibba led all scorers with 10 within the first half.
Arkansas Razorbacks guard Tramon Mark drives inside in opposition to Abilene Christian on Thursday evening at Bud Walton Area.
Andy Hodges / allHOGS Photos
In the meantime, Arkansas' solely offense got here on the free throw line, however after Makhi Mitchell cut up a pair of free throws for 4, a 3 from the wing stretched the lead again to seven, 35-28.
The second half was a special story. The Razorbacks got here out of the break rather more aggressive. Mark's drive to open his account within the second half made it a three-point recreation and introduced his intentions because the Hogs slowly pulled away. After a gap spurt that turned a first-half deficit into a bonus.
“We performed more durable,” Mark stated. “Not solely did we play more durable, however we performed very sensible. To be sincere, I believe we performed very onerous, however not essentially on the sensible aspect of taking part in more durable and competing and stuff.”
After a scary fall within the ultimate moments in opposition to North Carolina within the Bahamas, this was the primary recreation by which Mark regarded like he was again to full well being. The Houston switch guard led the staff in scoring earlier than his harm.
Mark continued to assault the basket. As soon as the Razorbacks lastly took the lead once more with an emphatic dunk, they by no means regarded again and held the lead residence. A 16-7 run capped by Mark's jumper within the paint stretched the result in double digits for the primary time all evening.
Who else however Mark to make the cease with 2:22 left within the recreation with the ice in his veins to use the coup de grâce to finish an up-and-down evening. The Razorbacks will end non-conference play on Dec. 30 in opposition to UNC-Wilmington. Tipoff is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. The sport shall be broadcast on the SEC Community and fuboTV.
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