Razorbacks knock off Mavericks

FAYETTEVILLE - The late Jimmy Breslin authored the comic novel “The Gang That Couldn’t Shoot Straight.”

Had he lived to see Friday night’s Arkansas vs. University of TexasArlington Mavericks first-half, he could have authored a sequel.

For neither the Razorbacks nor Mavericks remotely shot straight during Arkansas’ 31-26 half with Arkansas hitting but 8-of-25 from the field while the Mavericks connected 8-of-28.

The Razorbacks heated up in the second half and even with leading scorer Daniel Gafford sitting the final 9:26 with four fouls, pulled away for a 78-60 victory at Walton Arena.

The victory ups coach Mike Anderson’s Razorbacks to 4-1 before their next game Dec. 1 hosting Florida International at Walton.

UTA of the Sun Belt Conference falls to 3-3.

Gafford, Arkansas’ sophomore preseason All-SEC

center from El Dorado, led Arkansas with 21 points including a stunning career best 9-of-10 free throws.

Ironically the 6-for-6 first half from the free-throw line by 13-of-28 for the season free-throw shooter Gafford kept the Hogs ahead in the first half that UTA missed its first six shots and only led once 1-0, but Arkansas never led by above eight during the first half because of its own inability to put the ball in the hole.

On his three dunks plus the free throws, Gafford scored 12 of Arkansas’ 31 first half points.

Gafford was big during the second half until his fourth foul with 9:26.

Arkansas was up nine then, but UTA had cut a 20-point deficit to Indiana down to one in Bloomington, Ind., before the Hoosiers that Arkansas edged 73-72 last Sunday at Walton beat UTA 78-64.

Junior forward Adrio Bailey,14 points, freshman forward Reggie Chaney, seven rebounds and eight points, including a crowd-igniting dunk off a mad scramble for a 61-59 lead at 12:10 with Gafford still available, and sophomore forward Gabe Osabuohien, no points, but taking more UTA charges, did much to take up Gafford’s final 9:26 absence.

Arkansas only made 2-of-12 treys. Isaiah Joe, the freshman guard from Fort Smith Northside, hit one each half. The second one had Arkansas up 61-49 with 6:39 left. Joe scored 10. Edric Dennis led UTA with 19 points and Brian Warren scored 15 for UTA.

For the foul-plagued game Arkansas hit 34-of46 free throws to UTA’s 18-of-27.