Macon, Gafford sparkle in Red-White game

FAYETTEVILLE — The White team and Daryl Macon jumped ahead

6-0 Friday night and rolled 95-69 over the Red before an estimated crowd of

5,000 fans in Walton Arena. Macon hit a pair of three-point shots in the opening minute. In the end, all six scholarship players for the White team scored in double figures. True freshman Daniel Gafford, a highly decorated recruit from El Dorado, led the way with 23 points and 15 rebounds. Macon followed with 17 including four three-pointers in 10 attempts and eight assists and four boards.

About Gafford, Macon said, “He’s exactly what I thought he was He was explosive and he’s just gonna get better every day. You just got a glimpse of him tonight. That’s not even all of it. When you play for 20 straight minutes it’s tough. You got a glimpse of it, not everything he has.”

The White squad led 53-36 at intermission and 79-43 on a Gafford dunk with 13:07 remaining. Macon talked about hitting the two jumpers to start the game.

“I have a chip on my shoulder right now,” Macon said. “A point to prove. Each and every game I’m gonna come out strong. It’s our team picked sixth and individually I … thought I should have been on first or second team (preseason All-SEC), but at the end of the day it’s a personal opinion. This is how I’m gonna play from here on out so at the end of the season they won’t have a choice.”

Despite the one-sided loss, sophomore C.J. Jones showed why some are hoping he will soften the loss of noted outside shooters Dusty Hannahs from last year’s team. Jones hit four three-pointers in nine attempts for the Red team and finished with a game-high 24 points.

In addition to Gafford and Macon, the White squad had Jaylen Barford and Darious Hall with 14 points each and Gabe Osabuohien with 11 points. Dustin Thomas had a complete game with 12 points, seven rebounds, nine assists and three steals.

The Red team also had Anton Beard and Adrio Bailey with 18 points each. Bailey added 10 rebounds and five assists. Beard had seven assists and four rebounds.

The White squad blistered the nets for 55.1-percent shooting from the floor including 31.6 from behind the three-point line. They made 13 of 17 free throws for 76.5 percent. The White team outrebounded the Red squad 46-30.

The Red team shot 42.3 percent from the floor and only 23.8 percent from three-point land. Another stat that coach Mike Anderson won’t be happy with is they shot only 50 percent on free throws (making four of eight).

It was also a night two members of the Red team will probably try to forget. Trey Thompson only hit one field goal in six attempts though he did pull down four rebounds with five assists. He also had six personal fouls. Transfer Jalen Harris made one field goal in five attempts and only had one assist. He finished with five fouls.

Arkansas returns to the court against Central Oklahoma in an exhibition game at 7 p.m. Friday at Walton Arena.