Arkansas roars back from 11-point deficit

Arkansas guard Daryl Macon (center) looks for a shot between Texas-Arlington defenders in Friday night’s game at Walton Arena in Fayetteville. The Razorbacks rallied from a 17-point first half deficit to beat the Mavericks 71-67.
Arkansas guard Daryl Macon (center) looks for a shot between Texas-Arlington defenders in Friday night’s game at Walton Arena in Fayetteville. The Razorbacks rallied from a 17-point first half deficit to beat the Mavericks 71-67.

FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas basketball Coach Mike Anderson gave junior guard Jaylen Barford a brief pep talk at halftime of the Razorbacks' game Friday against Texas-Arlington.

photo

Dusty Hannahs (3) of Arkansas scored 11 points in leading the Razorbacks to a 71-67 victory over Texas-Arlington on Friday night in Fayetteville.

"Coach said some words to me that made me push myself and be aggressive," Barford said. "Just play more defense and be everywhere on the floor and help my team for the win."

Game sketch

STARS Arkansas junior guard Jaylen Barford (17 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals) and junior guard Anton Beard (12 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists). UT-Arlington guard Erick Neal (15 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists).

TURNING POINT Arkansas opened the second half with a 20-2 run to turn an 11-point deficit into its first lead of the game as it took control. Barford scored nine in the run, including eight consecutive to put the Hogs up 46-45.

KEY STAT UT-Arlington made just 4 of 14 3-pointers and turned the ball over 12 times in the second half after making 8 of 15 and turning it over six times in the first half.

UP NEXT Arkansas plays at Minnesota at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Minneapolis, Minn.

Anderson got the effort he wanted from Barford.

Barford scored 13 of his game-high 17 points and had all three of his steals after halftime to help the Razorbacks rally from an 11-point halftime deficit for a 71-67 home victory over UT-Arlington.

Barford, one of three junior-college transfers adjusting to Division I basketball, scored 9 points when Arkansas outscored UT-Arlington 20-2 to open the second half, including eight consecutive points to give the Razorbacks their first lead, 46-45.

An announced crowd of 6,623 at Walton Arena roared in approval.

"You saw him kind of take command out on the floor," Anderson said. "... He's a guy that can facilitate and make plays, whether it be for himself or others. We saw that tonight."

Arkansas (3-0) never trailed again, but needed some late-game shotmaking from junior guard Anton Beard to hold off the Mavericks (1-3) and Erick Neal, who scored five of his 15 in the final two minutes.

Beard scored all 12 of his points in the second half and made a step-back jumper to extend the Razorbacks' lead to 69-64 with less than a minute left.

"Anything under five (seconds on the shot clock), I'm probably going to shoot it," Beard said. "That's what the team be laughing at me about. But at those times, I just try to attack and make something happen."

Arkansas' rally came against a UT-Arlington team playing for the fourth time in seven days, but it canceled out an underwhelming Razorbacks' first half.

Arkansas shot 31 percent from the floor while UT-Arlington made 8 of 15 from three-point range as it built a big lead.

The Mavericks led 11-0 and 25-8 on the strength of five early 3-pointers and several fast-break baskets against a lagging Arkansas defense.

"I think we came out with the wrong mindset," Anderson said. "I thought we came out thinking this was going to be an easy game. There's not many teams that (will) come out and outplay us. I thought they had more energy, outefforted us in the first half."

The Razorbacks rallied in the second, thanks in large part to Barford and Beard, who picked up the slack with seniors Moses Kingsley and Dusty Hannahs having off nights.

Hannahs finished 2 of 10 from the floor. UT-Arlington swarmed Kingsley inside, holding him to 5 points on 2 of 5 shooting.

Arkansas' defense was also critical to the comeback.

The Hogs held UT-Arlington to 4 of 14 three-point shooting in the second and forced 12 second-half turnovers, leading to 19 points off turnovers.

"We were a little bit up tight," UT-Arlington Coach Scott Cross said. "Our guys got to learn to relax a little bit. It's hard. We've been on the road six straight days. Things aren't going to go quite as easy as when you're playing at home."

Neal hit a three-pointer to cut Arkansas' lead to 69-67 with 41 seconds left, but Barford was fouled, went to the line and sank two free throws to put Arkansas up four with 25 seconds left.

"In the first two games, it probably looked like I was very bad, which I knew I was bad," Barford said. "But I'm getting comfortable, acclimating to the team. I'm just having fun and playing free."

Sports on 11/19/2016

Upcoming Events