FAYETTEVILLE – Ricky Council IV led Arkansas in scoring for the third straight game and Trevon Brazile recorded his second double-double of the season – and his career – to lead #9/10 Arkansas (3-0) to a 71-56 victory over South Dakota State (2-2) Wednesday night at Bud Walton Arena – a game that was the 500th men’s basketball game played in this the 30th year of the facility.
Council scored a game-high 19 points (8-of-12 FG) and Brazile had 13 points and 10 rebounds while throwing down a highlight reel dunk that immediately went viral. Davonte Davis also scored 13 points while Jordan Walsh had 10 points and three steals in 16 minutes before leaving the game early in the second half with an ankle injury.
For the third straight game, the Razorback defense was the story. No player from SDAU scored in double figures and its leading scorer through two games – Matt Dentlinger (16.7 ppg) – was just 0-2 from the field with three points. The Razorbacks have yet to surrender 60 points and held the Jackrabbits – one of the top shooting teams in the nation from last year (#1 in the NCAA in overall FG% and #2 in 3-pt FG%) – to just 32.1% shooting overall and 18.6% (3-of-16) from 3-point range.
Arkansas used a 10-2 run to end the first half and an 11-1 run to start the second to push the lead to 22 points. The cushion would balloon to 27 (64-37 with 8:39 left). South Dakota State made all 10 of its free throws from the 3:53 mark to the 1:38 mark and hit a 3-pointer with two seconds left in the game to work the final deficit down to 15.
Up next, Arkansas will travel to Hawai’i to play in the Maui Jim Maui Invitational Monday-Wednesday (Nov. 21-23). The Razorbacks will face Louisville in the opener at 4 pm (CT) and the game will be televised on ESPN2.
FIRST HALF: Arkansas: 41 – South Dakota State: 29
• The 41 points are the most by the Razorbacks in the first half this season.
• Up three, Arkansas used an 8-0 run to take a 24-13 lead.
• The Jackrabbits answered with a 14-8 run, including an 8-0 spurt, to cut their deficit to four, 31-27, to force a Razorback timeout.
• Arkansas came out of the timeout and put together a 10-0 run to lead 41-27.
• SDSU scored with seven seconds left to provide the 41-29 halftime score.
• Arkansas shot 54.5% while holding SDSU to 39.3%, including 28.6% (2-of-7) from 3-point range.
• Arkansas had 10 assists and seven steals. SDSU had 11 turnovers with just six assists and three steals. With that, Arkansas scored 17 points off turnovers compared to five for SDSU.
• Arkansas leaders: Ricky Council IV with 11 points; Jalen Graham with six rebounds; Jordan Walsh with three steals and Anthony Black with four assists.
SECOND HALF: Arkansas: 30 – South Dakota State: 27
• Arkansas was 7-of-10 at the free throw line in the second half.
• Arkansas opened the second half with a 21-7 run. Council had eight points in the run.
GAME NOTES
• Tonight, marked the 500th men’s basketball game played in Bud Walton Arena. Arkansas is 409-91 (.818) in the building. The Hogs have won 12 straight in BWA dating back to last season and have won 31 consecutive non-conference games in the building.
• Arkansas’ starting lineup was Anthony Black – Davonte Davis – Ricky Council IV – Jordan Walsh – Makhi Mitchell for the second game in a row.
• Arkansas won the tip.
• Jordan Walsh scored the game’s first points on a steal and layup at 19:36.
• Trevon Brazile was the first Razorback sub for the third straight game.
• Arkansas entered the game #9 in the AP poll. The last time Arkansas hosted a game ranked in single-digits in the AP poll was the 1994-95 home finale versus Auburn. (Note, Arkansas hosted UCA and Little Rock last season when ranked #9 in the coaches poll.)
• This was the first meeting with South Dakota State. Arkansas is now 21-2 all-time versus current members of the Summit League. Coach Musselman is a perfect 6-0 versus the league in his two head coaching stints.
• Arkansas only had three players make a 3-pointer in the first two games combined (6-of-28). The Razorbacks had five players make a 3-pointer vs SDSU and were 7-of-22 for the game.
• Anthony Black was impressive across the board with five points, five rebounds, five assists and four steals.