Arkansas coasts past Providence

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Behind a lift from its bench and one three-pointer after another, Arkansas encountered nothing but smooth sailing in its National Invitational Tournament opener Tuesday night.

The Razorbacks hit plenty of high notes en route to an 84-72 victory over host Providence before an announced crowd of 3,057 at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center. Arkansas led from wire to wire in a game for the first

time since a 98-74 victory at Colorado State on Dec. 5.

Next up for Arkansas

(18-15) is a second-round matchup at Indiana, one of four No. 1 seeds in this year’s 32-team NIT field. The Hoosiers defended their home floor Tuesday with an 89-72 thrashing of St. Francis (Pa.).

Sophomore Mason Jones came off the bench to lead Arkansas with 18 points while another member of the Razorbacks’ bench, freshman Reggie Chaney, supplied 14 points. The Razorbacks made 10-of-21 (47.6 percent) three-pointers and connected on 51-percent of their field goals.

The Razorbacks also received scoring contributions from freshman Isaiah Joe (12 points) and sophomore Gabe Osabuohien (11 points).

For Providence (18-16), Alpha Diallo had 11 points. The Friars were 3 of 23 (13 percent) on three-pointers and missed.

The Razorbacks wasted little time in answering the biggest question hovering over the program: How would they adjust to life without Daniel Gafford after the sophomore big man declared for the NBA Draft on Monday? Arkansas made its first five shots from beyond the arc to build a 20-9 lead with the game barely seven minutes old. All games in the NIT are featuring experimental rules with one of them involving the three-point line being extended to 22 feet, 1.75 inches.

Providence responded to Arkansas’ hot start with six consecutive points, but the Razorbacks quickly shrugged that off with four layups in a row. Chaney got the run started with baskets on consecutive possessions, and before the Razorbacks knew it, they were feasting on a 28-15 lead with 7:44 left before halftime.

The Razorbacks owned a clear quickness advantage as the Friars, struggled to guard Arkansas off the dribble. When Chaney scored in the paint, the Razorbacks enjoyed their biggest lead of the half, 36-20, with 3:56 remaining.

Providence appeared to have momentum on its side as the first half drew to a close, but Friar junior Maliek White fouled Jalen Harris with three seconds to go. Harris made 1-of-2 at the free-throw to end a 6-0 Providence run and give Arkansas a healthy 42-31 lead at the break. The Razorbacks shot 50 percent from the freethrow line (5 of 10).

Things to continue to look up for the Razorbacks, who went up by 16 (52-36) after Joe nailed a three-pointer. Providence got to within 10 (5646) after a three-pointer from redshirt junior Drew Edwards. The basket was the Friars’ first field goal outside the paint.

Arkansas delivered an immediate response with Desi Sills finding the range from the far corner. His three-pointer put the Friars into a 59-46 hole with 13:35 remaining.

Harris supplied the finishing touch when he went in for a two-handed dunk that upped Arkansas’ lead to 75-58 with 4:52 to go.

The matchup with Indiana will be the second of the season for Arkansas. The Razorbacks walked off the Walton Arena court in Fayetteville with a 73-72 victory on Nov. 18. ARKANSAS (18-15)

Osabuohien 4-6 2-3 11, Bailey 2-5 1-1 5, Sills 2-5 2-2 8, Harris 2-6 3-4 7, Joe 3-11 4-7 12, Henderson 3-6 0-0 6, Chaney 7-9 0-0 14, Embery-Simpson 1-1 0-0 3, Jones 5-8 4-4 18. Totals 29-57 16-21 84. PROVIDENCE (18-16)

Watson 5-8 5-5 15, Diallo 4-13 4-8 12, Duke 3-7 1-2 7, Reeves 1-6 1-4 3, White 5-9 7-8 19, Young 3-5 0-0 6, Monroe 0-1 0-0 0, Nichols 0-1 2-2 2, Jackson 1-7 1-1 3, Ashton-Langford 0-1 0-0 0, Edwards 2-4 0-0 5. Totals 24-62 21-30 72.

Arkansas .................. 42 42 — 84 Providence ................ 31 41 — 72 3-Point Goals—Arkansas 10-21 (Jones 4-6, Sills 2-4, Joe 2-8, Osabuohien 1-1, Embery-Simpson 1-1, Harris 0-1), Providence 3-23 (White 2-4, Edwards 1-2, Young 0-1, Ashton-Langford 0-1, Monroe 0-1, Nichols 0-1, Duke 0-1, Jackson 0-4, Diallo 0-4, Reeves 0-4). Fouled Out—Chaney. Rebounds—Arkansas 35 (Osabuohien 8), Providence 35 (Diallo 11). Assists— Arkansas 19 (Harris 6), Providence 16 (Jackson, Diallo 4). Total Fouls—Arkansas 21, Providence 20.

AP/MICHAEL DWYER Arkansas’ Jalen Harris (right) drives past Providence’s Maliek White during the second half of the teams’ first-round NIT game Tuesday in Providence, R.I. Harris had 7 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds and 3 steals as the Razorbacks won 84-72.

AP/MICHAEL DWYER Arkansas’ Reggie Chaney (right) blocks a shot by Providence’s Alpha Diallo during the second half of the Razorbacks’ 84-72 victory on Tuesday in the first round of the NIT in Providence, R.I. Chaney finished with seven blocked shots.