Hogs keep a handle on the ball

FAYETTEVILLE — It was another single-digit turnover game for the Arkansas Razorbacks on Wednesday night.

The Razorbacks had nine turnovers in their 95-68 victory over California State University, Bakersfield to stretch their streak of having fewer than 10 to five games.

Senior guard Daryl Macon was especially good with the ball for the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville with eight assists and no turnovers in 31 minutes.

“Just playing together, sharing the ball, not being selfish,” Macon said of how Arkansas continues to limit turnovers. “Just going out there and playing the game the way it’s supposed to be played.

“Turnovers come when you start forcing things. Tonight we tried not to force a lot of things.”

The Razorbacks have combined for 38 turnovers in their past five games, with a low of five in a 92-66 victory over Colorado State.

“It just tells me we continue to value the basketball,” Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson said. “That’s the sign of a mature team, you would think, and maybe a good passing team.

“We’ll find out as we go against better defenses. Teams are going to prepare for us, and can we have good ball movement. Make that extra pass and knock down shots.”

CSUB Coach Rod Barnes said the Roadrunners normally would have played more pressure defense than they did against Arkansas, but he believed it wouldn’t work facing three senior starting guards in Macon, Jaylen Barford and Anton Beard.

“They’ve got three guys starting that could all probably be point guards,” Barnes said. “They’re smart with the ball and they’re veterans. So they understand how important it is to not turn the basketball over. They don’t put themselves in bad positions.”