Graham provides a spark

With the Arkansas Razorbacks struggling to get consistent scoring in its half-court offense at South Carolina on Saturday, Jalen Graham came to the rescue.

The 6-9 senior transfer scored a team-high 16 points on 8-of-10 shooting to help the University of Arkansas hold off the Gamecocks 65-63 for its first road win of the season.

Coach Eric Musselman substituted Graham in for the first time with Arkansas leading 7-6 and he came out about five minutes later having scored six points as the Razorbacks opened up a 21-12 advantage.

“I just know when I get in the game, Coach Muss, he wants me to contribute on [offense],” Graham said on the Razorback Sports Network. “Sometimes when we get stretches where we get scoring droughts, I feel I can come in and help, and that’s what I did today.”

In the first half, Graham hit 6 of 7 shots to account for 40% of Arkansas’ field goals. As usual, Graham’s post moves were on display as he sank baby hooks, short bank shots, a one-handed runner and even a longextension scoop under the arm of a defender and off the backboard.

“I ain’t going to lie. I’m always going to try to score, try to attack,” Graham said. “That’s my mentality. If I feel like I can take somebody one on one, that’s what I’m going to do.”

Graham led the Razorbacks in scoring for the third time this season, following a 16-point outing against North CarolinaAsheville and a 16-point game against Alabama, when he tied with Davonte Davis.

“Like I said all year, Jalen, that can be any day,” guard Ricky Council said. “He’s one of the most skilled bigs I’ve ever played with.”

Musselman called Graham “a really special offensive player” who provided a scoring spark.

“We just need Jalen to take a little bit better care

of the ball,” he said on the Razorback Sports Network. “I mean three turnovers when he doesn’t have the ball in his hands that much.

“We need his offense, but he’s got to defensive rebound. I mean one defensive rebound in 21 minutes when we’re struggling to get defensive boards. We really, really need some physicality and rebounding in traffic like our guards are doing.”