Arkansas looks to bounce back against UTSA

FAYETTEVILLE — From the instant his Razorbacks lost, 78-77, a week ago in Fayetteville, Arkansas head men’s basketball coach Mike Anderson’s mind fast forwarded to tonight in North Little Rock.

The Hogs (6-2) will tip off at 7 p.m. at Verizon Arena against UT-San Antonio (3-6) in the team’s first game since a home loss at Bud Walton Arena to Western Kentucky. The game is not scheduled to be televised and will air on the Razorbacks’ radio network.

Metal detectors are mandated for security. Fans are encouraged to arrive closer to the 5:30 p.m. time when gates open than the 7 p.m. tip-off.

Semester exams at the university concluded on Thursday and practices filled the interim until the team visited Arkansas Children’s Hospital on Friday in Little Rock. Players and coaches also got reacquainted with Verizon with a team workout before their annual game in North Little Rock.

“I’m anxious to see how our guys respond,” Anderson said. “We are coming off a tough loss against Western Kentucky. I’m looking forward to seeing how our guys respond to a little adversity.”

Arkansas’ six-game win streak was snapped by Western Kentucky (5-4). The Razorbacks’ only two losses this season featured poor free throw shooting.

The Razorbacks were 13-for-24, 54.2 percent, in a sea-

son-opening loss against Texas (6-3). They shot 9-for-16, 56.3 percent, against the Hilltoppers.

The Longhorns were favored against the young Hogs, but Arkansas was the home favorite against Western Kentucky. Anderson said his players were “full of themselves” after a 98-74 road conquest of Colorado State (5-5) in Fort Collins, Colo.

“The pat on the back can set you back,” Anderson said. “I thought our intensity was not to my liking.

“Our pressure defense, even in the half court, we didn’t get after it. I think the lesson learned is you can’t just show up no matter who you play.”

Anderson said he expects Arkansas to ratchet up the defense from a week ago, move the ball crisply on offense and certainly delve deeper in preparation than the Roadrunners’ 3-6 record. The Razorbacks combined for 28 assists against the Rams, but they made only 10 against the Hilltoppers.

“San Antonio is a team that’s won three out of their last four games,” Anderson said. “The last six games, they got back their leading scorer, the Jackson kid, who was the Conference USA Freshman of the Year.”

San Antonio 6-0 sophomore guard Jhivvan Jackson averaged 18.6 points last year before missing the last part of the season with a torn ACL. He was not cleared to play this season until the Roadrunners began 0-3.

Jackson is averaging 18.7 points, including 28 points in a victory over NAIA opponent Mid-America Christian (8-3) and 22 points in a onepoint loss to a Texas State (9-1) team which will visit Bud Walton Arena in one week’s time.

“He’s a scorer,” Anderson said. “A little, quick guard that can pull up from any point in time. Once he gets on a run, he can probably get you 10-12 points just like that.”

Keaton Wallace, a 6-3 sophomore guard, leads the team with 19.6 points per game. His output has ranged from 15-35 points in eight of San Antonio’s nine games.

Jackson has hit 20 of 49 treys, 40.8 percent, and Wallace has hit 34 of 86, 39.5 percent. Wallace made 9 of 13, 69.2 percent, 3-pointers against Mid-America Christian.

“They’ve got unbelievable range shooting the ball and putting it on the floor,” Anderson said. “Those are some guys you’ve really got to pay attention to and not let anyone else go off.”

Arkansas counters from 3-point range with freshman guard Isaiah Joe, of Fort Smith Northside, who is 33 of 71 this season for 46.5 percent. Mason Jones has connected on 21 of 47 3-pointers for 44.7 percent.

A major objective for Arkansas against the smaller Roadrunners will be to establish Daniel Gafford inside. The sophomore center from El Dorado is averaging 18.5 points as a Preseason All-Southeastern Conference First-Team selection.

Arkansas only got 13 points off of the bench against Western Kentucky. Reserve players were key at Colorado State, but freshman guard Desi Sills, of Jonesboro, scored all nine of his points in the second half and freshman forward Reggie Chaney added four points.

“The development of our bench is going to continue to be big,” Anderson said.