Balanced scoring output pushes Hogs ahead of Fresno State
Second-half turnarounds were a common theme of John Calipari’s first year at Arkansas, and while they didn’t need as drastic of one against Fresno State, that’s sort of what happened in North Little Rock on Saturday.
Arkansas had a slow and sluggish start in the first 20 minute, which has become a common theme at Simmons Bank Arena in recent years, and led Fresno State 34-24. The Hogs came out of the break and immediately went on a tear and outscored the Bulldogs 48-34 in the second half to blow open the floodgates and run away with the game.
“Karter made shots, D.J. made shots, we made a couple breakouts,” Calipari said. “When you’re making shots, it puts more pressure on their offense, and then our defense becomes smothering, because it’s more basket, basket, stop, rebound, throw-ahead, dunk. Now, when you pressure, the importance of that possession for that other team becomes off the charts. And now our offense is even better.
The scoring came from everywhere, as nine different Razorbacks scored at least two points. All but Nick Pringle and Trevon Brazile had multiple shots fall.
As a team, the Razorbacks shot 45.5% from the field and 36.7% (11-of-30) from deep. They dished out 17 assists and committed just eight turnovers.
Darius Acuff Jr. led the way in scoring with 18 points while three other Razorbacks — Meleek Thomas (12), D.J. Wagner (12) and Karter Knox (11) — joined him in double-figure scoring. He also added five assists and four rebounds in the win.
”I think he’s doing terrific,” Calipari said of his point guard postgame. “Today, where he tried to force some shots, like he just didn’t see it. Today on a drive, Karter says ‘one more,’ and he was going to try to shoot it. When he heard it, he just got rid of it. He reacted. Karter makes a three.”
One guy who needed to have a day like Saturday was Knox. He’s had a quiet start to the season against better competition, with a combined seven points in his last two outings against Louisville and Duke.
Knox even had a rough start to the game, just two points on 1-of-3 shooting with a turnover. But he squared up and knocked down three three-pointers in the second half, two of which were back-to-back to start the final 20 minutes.
Wagner’s scoring outburst would have been higher if some of the threes he had shot had stayed down. The eight he attempted is a season-high and he had several in the first half that were halfway down the bucket before they crawled out.
”I was so happy for D.J.,” Calipari said. “He missed every shot to start the game…but he kept shooting. He kept shooting, and I told him at halftime, that shows the battle you have with yourself. It ain’t a battle with me.”
The Razorbacks will head home from Little Rock and have the midweek off before a neutral-site matchup with Texas Tech at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, on Saturday, Dec. 13.
