Hard work nets Gafford 8-for-8 effort

WEDNESDAY’S LATE GAME ARKANSAS 90, MONTANA ST. 68

FAYETTEVILLE — University of Arkansas forward Daniel Gafford is shooting 76.7 percent from the field after a perfect Wednesday night in the Razorbacks’ 90-68 victory over Montana State before an announced crowd of 8,682 in Walton Arena.

“It’s ridiculous,” Arkansas sophomore point guard Jalen Harris said. “You get it to him down there and you know there’s a good possibility he’ll make them, so you keep feeding him.”

Gafford, a 6-11 sophomore from El Dorado, went 8 of 8 from the field against the Bobcats and is now 33 of 43 in 4 games.

In the last two games, including Arkansas’ 73-72 victory over Indiana on Sunday, Gafford is 20 of 23 from the field. That includes eight dunks — four each against the Hoosiers and Bobcats — but he’s also scored in heavy traffic in the lane.

“It’s basically that all the hard work I’m doing is paying off,” Gafford said. “I’m working on coming out above the free-throw line and attacking the basket and not trying to make layups.”

Gafford prefers dunks — he has 13 on the season — to layups.

“I’m trying to finish around the basket,” he said. “Because it’s easy points.”

Gafford matched the school record he shares with seven other Razorbacks for shooting 100 percent from the field with a minimum of eight attempts. He also was 8 of 8 against Minnesota last season and is the only Razorback to have two games of eight baskets without a miss.

Razorbacks Coach Mike Anderson said Gafford is getting the ball in the right spots and his teammates are making sure to get him the ball.

“Jalen Harris, I told him before the year, ‘You’re going to be one of the top assists leaders in the country, man. You’ve got a big guy with great hands,’ ” Anderson said. “I think they’re starting to connect.

“I think Daniel is connecting with all of our guys and they know what he brings to the table.”

Sophomore guard Mason Jones led the Razorbacks (31) with 18 points. Gafford had 16 points, Harris had 11 points and 11 assists, and junior forward Adrio Bailey and freshman guard Isaiah Joe had 10 points each.

The Razorbacks had 29 assists on 37 baskets.

“I tell you what, that’s hopefully something that will continue to catch on with this basketball team,” Anderson said. “That’s called the trust factor, where I may pass up a very good shot for a great shot.”

The Razorbacks outscored the Bobcats 20-3 in fast-break points.

“When we’re in transition, guys are now starting to make the right decision,” Anderson said. “There are some times we’ll botch up a fast-break, but for the most part I thought we got the ball to the right people at the right time.”

Arkansas led 54-38 at halftime after Montana State (1-4) scored three more points than it did in its entire game at Indiana on Nov. 9 when the Hoosiers beat the Bobcats 80-35.

Montana State senior guard Tyler Hall scored 29 points and hit 10 of 20 of from the field — including 7 of 15 three-pointers — but the Razorbacks kept him in check the second half.

After scoring 23 points in the first half, Hall shot 2 of 6 in the second half and was 0 of 3 on three-point attempts.

The Razorbacks shot 52.9 from the field, thanks in large part to transition points with the Bobcats having 24 turnovers. Arkansas outscored Montana State 29-9 in points off of turnovers.