Hogs go into break feeling pretty good

Arkansas' Daniel Gafford (center) positions himself for a rebound during a game against Oral Roberts on Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017, in Fayetteville.
Arkansas' Daniel Gafford (center) positions himself for a rebound during a game against Oral Roberts on Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017, in Fayetteville.

FAYETTEVILLE -- The Arkansas Razorbacks made sure they'll have a nice -- if brief -- Christmas break by pounding Oral Roberts University, 104-69, on Tuesday night in Walton Arena.

"I'll have a good Christmas. They will, too," Razorbacks Coach Mike Anderson said. "They're shooting out of here and will get a few days to go and enjoy with the family."

Anderson is giving the Razorbacks (9-2) three days off before the team resumes practice Saturday.

"I try not to be a total Scrooge," he said.

It may not be ideal timing for the players to return to campus two days before Christmas, but Anderson doesn't have much choice with the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville playing California State-Bakersfield on Wednesday night in Walton Arena.

"It's going to be a great break, to get the love from the city and just home and family," said Razorbacks senior guard Jaylen Barford, who is from Jackson, Tenn. "Great food. I'll try not to eat too much."

Freshman forward Daniel Gafford of El Dorado isn't used to being away from home for such a long period of time.

"It just feels good to go home and see my family to be honest, because it's been a while," Gafford said.

Gafford said he's especially excited to spend time with his mother, whom he saw when the Razorbacks defeated Troy in North Little Rock on Saturday night.

"She cried to me and said she missed me and I just had to see her," he said. "This is the opportunity to get to see her again."

Anderson said the Razorbacks likely will practice twice on Christmas Day.

"I might go on a diet for about three days," Barford said with a smile upon hearing that news.

Anderson said the Razorbacks will get to enjoy Christmas dinner at his house between practices.

"We'll give them a good spread," he said. "It'll be like at home."

Anderson said he was concerned his players might be looking ahead to their Christmas break before playing Oral Roberts, but the Razorbacks alleviated any thoughts about that as they took a 50-23 halftime lead and stayed ahead by at least 26 points the rest of the game.

"That tells me they were dialed in, and I worried they'd be dialed out," Anderson said. "But to their credit, I thought they got a little bit better."

The Razorbacks forced 27 turnovers, while committing 9 turnovers and shot 59.4 percent from the field (41 of 69), including 14 of 25 on three-pointers. They limited Oral Roberts to 41.7 percent shooting (10 of 24) in the decisive first half.

That didn't leave Anderson with much to complain about except free throw shooting. The Razorbacks hit 8 of 15 free throws, including 1 of 7 in the first half.

"We were atrocious from the free throw line," Anderson said. "That second half we were a lot better, but that first half I didn't know who that team was. It was like, 'do we shoot on these rims every day?'

"But it was a pretty good performance coming off finals and just getting ready to go home."

Since the Razorbacks lost at Houston 91-65 on Dec. 2, they've won four consecutive games by an average margin of 25.5 points, including 95-79 over a Minnesota team that was ranked No. 14 at the time and is expected to contend in the Big Ten.

"We're playing well," Anderson said. "As a coach, you hate to stop because we have a nice rhythm going, but we all know what's in front of us."

After playing California State-Bakersfield, the Razorbacks open SEC play against No. 21 Tennessee on Dec. 30.

But first Anderson wants his players to focus on their time away from basketball.

"They'll go home and relax and enjoy it," Anderson said. "If you watch our team, they're having fun.

"Even when the clock goes off, they're having fun. That's really, really unique and special when you have that going on."

The Razorbacks especially seem to enjoy cheering for walk-on sophomore guard Jonathan Holmes, who has scored 13 points in six games this season, including a basket on a floater against Oral Roberts.

Whenever Holmes has scored in the blowout victories, his teammates have reacted as if he hit a game-winning shot.

"We have a lot of guys that are not only pulling for the first guy, but the last guy on the bench," Anderson said. "When you have that going and you're winning, it makes for a great atmosphere.

"It's a good group to coach."

Even twice on Christmas Day.

Up next

ARKANSAS MEN VS. CAL STATE-BAKERSFIELD

WHEN 7 p.m., Wednesday WHERE Walton Arena, Fayetteville RECORDS Arkansas 9-2, Cal State-Bakersfield 7-7 TV SEC Network

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