Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Second-half spree gets Hogs rolling
FAYETTEVILLE — Early in the second half of Arkansas’ exhibition opener Friday night, the Razorbacks scored on possessions that took just seven, one and four seconds, respectively.
Defense keyed that quick 7-0 burst to start the second half as the Razorbacks took a 17-point lead over Central Oklahoma.
Playing with a thin roster, Arkansas couldn’t extend the lead. Central Oklahoma cut its deficit to six points with less than two minutes remaining, but the disruptive defense, along with senior playmakers Daryl Macon and Jaylen Barford, were enough for the Razorbacks in a 78-66 victory at Walton Arena.
“I could tell our activeness, because in the first half, I think we had 25 deflections,” Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson said. “And not only were we deflecting the ball, we were coming up [with it]. And then that first three-minute period [in the second half], we had eight more deflections and … you could just see the momentum really kind of building.
“Then I think we may have hit that wall.”
Macon scored a gamehigh 23 points and dished out 5 assists, while Barford added 19 points and 6 assists to help carry the Razorbacks, but defense was Arkansas’ calling card. The Division II Bronchos shot just 37 percent and turned the ball over 17 times leading to 17 Arkansas points off turnovers. The Razorbacks were at their best turning offense into defense, scoring 19 fast-break points and excelling when they pushed the pace.
“Their athleticism really bothered us, really hurt us,” UCO Coach Tom Hankins said. “And then their size, their guards were way bigger.”
Arkansas suited up just eight scholarship players. Anderson had previously indicated senior forward Arlando Cook (suspended) and freshman guard Khalil Garland wouldn’t play, while sophomore guard Jalen Harris is sitting out after transferring from New Mexico. But the absences of senior forward Dustin Thomas and freshman guard Darious Hall were surprises.
Hall was held out after bumping his head in practice earlier in the week. Thomas was suspended for a violation of team rules, which Anderson said could mean he misses both exhibitions and “possibly three more” games.
“You’re a fifth-year senior, I think you should know,” Anderson said of Thomas. “You put your heart and soul and worked hard to get to this point and I think you let down your team.”
With the shortened bench, four players played at least 30 minutes for the Razorbacks, a toll that seemed to take effect in the latter stages of the second half as UCO provided a slight scare late, cutting the deficit to 72-66 with 1:25 left.
Macon and Barford combined to score six consecutive points to put the game out of reach after the Hogs turned it over 17 times and were shooting less than 40 percent for most of the second half.
“It affected us a lot,” Barford said of the absences. “[They bring] more energy, more rebounds, being more long and just being more fast-paced because we kind of had to pace ourselves.”
Arkansas freshman center Daniel Gafford finished with 8 points and 7 rebounds in 15 minutes off the bench. But the 6-foot-11, 234-pounder made his impact in other ways.
On his first defensive possession, Gafford used his length to tip away a post entry pass and forced a turnover. The next trip down, Gafford tipped away another lob pass, again leading to a UCO turnover.
Arkansas outscored the Bronchos by 17 points with Gafford on the court, a mark that tied with Barford for the best on the team. He had 7 points, 4 rebounds and provided solid rim protection during a 7-minute stretch late in the game, feasting against a Bronchos team without a player taller than 6-7.
“My first thought was, ‘Wow, that guy’s going to be really good,’” Hankins said. “He is really good, but his upside is really high. We don’t see long, bouncy athletes like that.”
Arkansas will host Missouri Western on Friday for its second and final exhibition before opening the season Nov. 10 at home against Samford.