Oklahoma hands No. 12 Arkansas first loss of season
In a neutral site matchup of future SEC opponents, Arkansas had the shorter drive over but the longer drive home.
Elijah Harkless had 21 points and 11 rebounds as Oklahoma handed the 12th-ranked Razorbacks their first loss of the season, frustrating their coach and top shooters in an 88-66 romp Saturday.
Playing before a split crowd of 12,746 less than two hours from both schools, Oklahoma (8-2) rushed to a 13-0 lead in the first 4:37, helped by two 3-pointers and a drive by Harkless.
Arkansas (9-1) never caught up and coach Eric Musselman was assessed two technical fouls and ejected with 3:30 to play. He was restrained by his assistant coaches while arguing with an official, and Jordan Goldwire hit four free throws that made it 76-57.
Musselman had no comment on the officiating after, but plenty to say about his team’s poor shooting and lack of tenacity while praising OU for the same.
“Harkless, I thought he was phenomenal,” Musselman said. “Through toughness and sheer desire, he had an incredible game.”
JD Notae, who had been leading the Razorbacks with nearly 19 points a game, was held to 13 on 3-for-14 shooting. Davonte Davis scored a career-high 26 for Arkansas.
Tanner Groves had 16 points, including a 3-pointer that pushed OU’s lead to 69-57 with 6:02 left and seemed to deflate the Razorbacks. Goldwire scored 14, Umoja Gibson 12 and Jalen Hill 11.
No. 8 Kansas 102, Missouri 65: Ochai Agbaji scored 21 points, Christian Braun and Dajuan Harris had 13 apiece, and the host Jayhawks (8-1) blew out the Tigers (5-5) in the first meeting of the longtime Big 12 rivals as nonconference foes.
ANo. 11 Arizona 83, Illinois 79: Bennedict Mathurin scored 27 points to power the Wildcats (9-0) over the host Illini (7-3).
No. 13 Tennessee 76, UNC-Greensboro 36: Josiah-Jordan James and Brandon Huntley-Hatfield each scored 12 points to
AAlead the host Volunteers (7-2) past the Spartans (7-3).
No. 15 UConn 74, St. Bonaventure 64: R.J. Cole scored 15 points and the Huskies (9-2) surged midway through the second half to beat the Bonnies (8-2).
No. 18 Auburn 99, Nebraska 68: Playing minus suspended coach Bruce Pearl, the Tigers (8-1) made 16 steals and routed the Cornhuskers (5-6). Pearl began his two-game suspension imposed by the NCAA on Friday. Auburn was placed on probation for four years for unethical conduct involving former associate head coach Chuck Person. Pearl was penalized for failing to monitor his assistant and adequately promote compliance.
No. 19 Michigan State 80, Penn State 64: Gabe Brown scored 15 points and Marcus Bingham Jr. had 12 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Spartans (9-2) over
AAAthe Nittany Lions (5-5).
No. 21 Ohio State 73, No. 22 Wisconsin 55: E.J. Liddell scored 28 points and the host Buckeyes (8-2) shot 50 percent to defeat the Badgers (8-2).
Creighton 83, No. 24 BYU 71: Ryan Hawkins scored 19 of his season-high 25 points in the first half and the Bluejays (9-2) beat the Cougars (8-2).
AAWOMEN’S TOP 25
No. 3 UConn 71 UCLA 61: The Huskies (6-2) struggled again without star Paige Bueckers but managed to avoid back-to-back losses for the first time since 1993, holding off the Bruins (5-3).
No. 11 Texas 83, Idaho 43: DeYona Gaston led a balanced attack with 19 points, Latasha Lattimore had a double-double and the host Longhorns (7-1) coasted over Idaho (1-7).
AA