FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas Razorbacks freshman forward Daniel Gafford made his first start of the season Saturday against No. 14 Minnesota, taking the place of senior Trey Thompson.
It turned out pretty well for Gafford and the Razorbacks.
Gafford finished 8 of 8 from the field and had 16 points, 7 rebounds and 6 blocked shots in 21 minutes as the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville won 95-79 in Walton Arena.
"It was time for him to get out there," Razorbacks Coach Mike Anderson said. "He gives you the presence inside and he spaces the floor where our guys have the lanes to either attack or shoot the basketball, and on defense he's a rim protector back there.
"He rebounds the ball above the rim. He's getting better. So it was one of those gut instinct type things to get him out there. He played more instinctive tonight as opposed to worrying about fouling."
Gafford, who came into the game averaging 12.0 points and 5.8 rebounds in 18.9 minutes off the bench, said he didn't know he was starting until shortly before tipoff.
"When they told me, I was like, 'Hey, I mean, I have to play like I was playing when I was coming off the bench,' " he said. "Because Coach calls me one of the energy guys. I just have to do the same thing when I was coming off the bench."
It was the Razorbacks' third different starting combination as Gafford joined senior guards Jaylen Barford, Anton Beard and Daryl Macon, and senior forward Dustin Thomas.
Thomas has started the past two games in place of sophomore Adrio Bailey. Barford, Beard and Macon have started every game.
Passing, scoring
Arkansas senior guard Daryl Macon had seven of his eight assists in the first half and all 12 of his points in the second half.
Macon shot 0 of 4 in the first half and 4 of 8 in the second half. He matched his career-high eight assists against Samford in this season's opener.
"I think the biggest part of that was he was playing defense and that's why he continued to be out on the floor," Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson said. "He didn't make any shots early on, but I thought he was the one getting the ball down the floor. He moved the basketball, and to me that's when you start learning how to play to win. You're doing other things than score.
"Of course, the second half he got the mindset that he thinks that he can score on anybody, so I like how he did. He did what he needed to do to help the team win."
Jones stays hot
Razorbacks sophomore guard C.J. Jones scored 15 points, the fifth consecutive game he's had 11 or more.
Jones is averaging 15.0 points over that span, including a career-high 19 against Connecticut and Colorado State. He has hit 25 of 42 shots during his hot streak, including 15 of 29 three-pointers.
Morris in the house
It was a busy Saturday for Chad Morris, the Razorbacks' new football coach.
After Morris attended the Class 4A state championship game between Arkadelphia and Warren at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, he was back in Fayetteville for the Arkansas-Minnesota game.
Morris and new Athletic Director Hunter Yurachek and their families were introduced during a break in the first half to a loud ovation from the crowd.
"We cannot wait to lock arms with you," Morris said. "Put it in the left lane and hammer down."
Nice round number
Arkansas is now 100-15 in home games under Coach Mike Anderson, including 5-0 this season.
The Razorbacks have won eight in a row at Walton Arena since losing to Vanderbilt 72-59 on Feb. 7, 2017.
Vs. best at home
Arkansas improved to 35-23 against nationally ranked teams in Walton Arena's 25 seasons, including 7-5 under Coach Mike Anderson.
The Razorbacks are 9-9 against teams in the top 15 in Walton Arena.
Tennessee tipoff
Arkansas' SEC opener will tip off at noon Dec. 30 in Walton Arena, according to the Razorbacks' updated schedule.
When the SEC schedule was announced earlier this year, the tipoff time was to be determined depending on whether the Razorbacks and Vols were playing bowl games.
That became a moot point as both teams went 4-8 and didn't qualify for a bowl.
Tennessee was picked to finish 13th in the SEC in a preseason media poll, but the Vols are 7-1 after beating Lipscomb 81-71 on Saturday and are ranked No. 24 in The Associated Press poll.
Pitinos at Arkansas
Rick Pitino and his son, Minnesota Coach Richard Pitino, are a combined 1-3 in road games against the Razorbacks.
Rick Pitino was 1-2 as Kentucky's coach in road games against Arkansas, losing 101-94 in 1993 at Barnhill Arena and 94-92 in 1995 at Walton Arena, and winning 83-73 at Walton Arena in 1997.
Saturday's game was Richard Pitino's first game as a head coach in Arkansas.
Anderson vs. Minnesota
Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson evened his record against Minnesota at 2-2. He's 2-1 with the Razorbacks against the Gophers and 0-1 when he coached Alabama-Birmingham.
Saturday marked the first time Anderson has coached against Minnesota in a home game.
Minnesota beat Anderson's second UAB team 69-68 in Minneapolis during the 2005-2006 season. Anderson's third Arkansas team beat Minnesota 83-73 in the Maui Invitational during the 2013-2014 season. The Gophers beat the Razorbacks 85-71 last season in Minneapolis.
Curry out
Minnesota forward Eric Curry, a 6-9 sophomore from Memphis who played at Southwest Christian Academy in Little Rock, traveled with the Gophers to Saturday's game but didn't play because of a knee injury.
Curry suffered a season-ending injury in August when he tore ligaments in his left knee while playing a pickup game.
"Everybody's been real good keeping my head up, keeping my head straight and making me stay focused," Curry told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune last week. "Just telling me everything is going to be better next year."
Been awhile
Saturday marked Minnesota's first road game against an SEC team since Dec. 7, 2001, when Georgia beat the Gophers 77-55.
Sports on 12/10/2017