Strong First Half Leads to Arkansas Win Over Little Rock, 79-67
FAYETTEVILLE – Adou Thiero had 23 points, eight rebounds, a career-high six steals and two blocked shots while Boogie Fland added 21 points and seven assists to lead #20/24 Arkansas to a 79-67 victory over Little Rock Friday night at Bud Walton Arena.
The Razorbacks raced out a to a 17-3 lead to start the game and never trailed. While Arkansas held several leads of 15 points or more, including an 18-point lead at halftime, the Trojans would not go away, out-scoring the Hogs 43-37 in the second half.
A 10-0 run by Little Rock with 13 minutes to go, cut its deficit to eight. Later, the Trojans trailed by just seven with 10:15 left before a 7-0 Razorback run, highlighted by a Thiero offensive rebound on a missed Karter Kknox free throw, to put its lead in double digits. Then, down 17 with 5:43 to play, Little Rock worked its deficit to eight (74-66) with 2:14 left.
Thiero got the Razorbacks back on track when he threw down his fourth dunk of the game for a 10-point lead with 1:25 left. Fland went 3-of-4 at the line over the final minute to secure the 12-point win.
D.J. Wagner made 3-of-6 from 3-point range and scored 11 points with three steals and Zvonimir Ivisic scored 10 points with two blocked shots.
Mwani Wilkinson led the Trojans with 18 points and Jonathan Lawson added a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds.
Arkansas wraps its four-game homestand by hosting Maryland-Eastern Shore on Monday (Nov. 25) in Bud Walton Arena. Tipoff is set for 7 pm and the game will be televised on SEC Network Plus.
FIRST HALF: Arkansas 42 – Little Rock 24
• Arkansas raced out to a 17-3 lead to start the game.
• Arkansas had 10 steals in the period, its most since getting 10 versus Bradley (12/17/22) in a game at North Little Rock. D.J. Wagner and Adou Thiero each had three steals. Johnell Davis and Boogie Fland each had two.
• Boogie Fland led Arkansas with 13 points, going 5-lof-5 from the field (2-of-2 from 3-point) and 1-of-1 at the line. He also led the team with five assists.
• Arkansas shot 58.1% from the field while holding Little Rock to 29.6%, including 9.1% (1-of-11) from 3-point.
SECOND HALF: Arkansas 37 – Little Rock 43
• Arkansas only shot 31.8% from the field while Little Rock shot 43.8%, including 45.5% (5-of-11) from 3-point range.
• Arkansas out-rebounded Little Rock, 23-18, in the second half and won the rebound battle, 38-36.
• Thiero scored 16 of his 23 in the second half with six rebounds and three steals.
• Arkansas committed 19 turnovers for the game, 12 in the second half.
GAME NOTES:
- Arkansas’ starting lineup was Boogie Fland, D.J. Wagner, Johnell Davis, Adou Thiero and Zvonimir Ivisic.
- Arkansas won the opening tip. The Hogs have won the tip in all five games.
- Adou Thiero scored the game’s first points, a steal and a layup at 18:53.
- Karter Knox was Arkansas’ first sub.
- Boogie Fland leads the SEC in minutes played and added to that by playing 38:03 Friday as he played all 20 minutes of the second half.
- This was just the second time Arkansas and Little Rock have officially faced off. Arkansas won 93-78 on Dec. 14, 2021. However, the teams also played a charity exhibition game on Oct. 20, 2019, a game Arkansas won, 79-64, on a night Bud Walton Arena’s playing surface was named Nolan Richardson Court.
- Boogie Fland is the only Razorback to score double figures in all five games as well as the only one to hit a 3-pointer in all five and have at least three assists in all five – getting seven three times.
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