Sports
Hogs, UCA to square off in North Little Rock
Who: Arkansas Razorbacks (8-2, 0-0 SEC) vs UCA Bears (2-7, 0-0 ASUN)
What: Arkansas is making its 29th trip to North Little Rock and facing UCA for the ninth time, but just the third time since 1947.
When: Saturday – Dec. 14 – 3:00 pm (CT)
Where: North Little Rock, Ark. • Simmons Bank Arena (18,000)
How (to follow):
– TV/Stream: SEC Network Plus / Watch ESPN (Brett Dolan and Joe Kleine)
– Radio: Learfield Razorback Sports Network (Chuck Barrett and Matt Zimmerman)
– Sirius/XM: Sirius: 113 / XM: 191 || SXM App Channel 961
– Arkansas Gameday App
– Live Stats
– Arkansas Game Notes
– UCA Game Notes
– SEC Notes/Stats
FAYETTEVILLE – Arkansas is making its annual trip to North Little Rock to face the UCA Bears on Saturday (Dec. 14). Tipoff at Simmons Bank Arena is set for 3 pm and the game will be broadcast on SEC Network Plus.
The series between the two programs dates back to Arkansas’ first season of basketball (1923-24). Also, Arkansas has been playing in North Little Rock since that inaugural season. In fact, Arkansas’ sixth game ever was played in North Little Rock.
Arkansas returns to Bud Walton Arena to host North Carolina A&T next Saturday (Dec. 21). Tipoff is set for 1:30 pm.
NOTES:
- Arkansas and UCA met in the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons. However, before that, the in-state programs had not met since the 1946-47 season. The Razorbacks are 8-0 all-time versus the Bears, including a 5-0 record in games played in Fayetteville. The series dates back to Arkansas’ first season of basketball. The teams met on back-to-back days during the 1923-24 season (Jan. 11 and 12) in Fayetteville with the Razorbacks winning 62-27 and 34-14, respectively. The programs also met in the 1933-34 season, on back-to-back days in the 1935-36 seasons and the aforementioned 1946-47 season.
- The last time Arkansas and UCA met, then #9/10 Arkansas Razorbacks turned a six-point halftime lead into a 37-point, 97-60 victory over Central Arkansas at Bud Walton Arena. Arkansas scored the first 11 points of the period and had a 20-2 run, including an 8-0 run and 12-0 run, to put the game away. UCA was 7-of-10 from 3-point range in the first half but was held to just 2-of-11 in the second half. Jaylin Williams had a career-high 13 rebounds (11 defensive) and four Razorbacks scored in double figures, including a game-high 17 points from Stanley Umude off the bench, 16 points each from Davonte Davis and Au’Diese Toney, and 10 points from JD Notae. Umude added eight rebounds and Toney was 6-of-6 from the field in the second half, scoring 14 of his 16 points in the period.
- Arkansas is 18-10 all-time in North Little Rock and 14-10 Simmons Bank Arena. Last year, Arkansas defeated Lipscomb, 69-66, in Simmons Bank Arena. Arkansas history in the area dates back to the first season of basketball, as the program did play in the city four times in the early years, including the sixth game ever in school history on Dec 31, 1923, versus North Little Rock HS. The arena in North Little Rock opened for the 1999-00 season. The Razorbacks have played in NLR in 22 of the last 23 years with a 20-year streak of playing in North Little Rock snapped in Dec. 2020 due to COVID. The only other year Arkansas did not play in NLR was the 2000-01 season.
- Arkansas head coach John Calipari is facing UCA for the first time. But, Cal it is no stranger to coaching in North Little Rock’s arena. On Mar. 21 and 23, 2008, as head coach at Memphis, Cal led the Tigers to wins over UT Arlington and Mississippi State in then Alltel Arena en route to a national runner-up finish.
- Arkansas got off to a good start versus Michigan before the Wolverines went on a 24-6 run (with a 12-0 spurt and UM making 11-of-11 field goals at one stretch) to lead by 15 (29-14) with 8:58 left in the first half. Michigan also led by 15 (31-16) with 8:31 left and led by 15 (36-21) with 6:27 left. From that point in the first half, Arkansas out-scored Michigan 57-24 over the next 15:51 to take an 18-point lead (78-60) with 10:15 left in the game. Arkansas out-scored UM 33-11 to start the second half, including a 12-0 spurt to open the period, to take the 18-point lead. Boogie Fland scored 18 points with four assists in the overall run. Arkansas forced 10 UM turnovers in the first 10 minutes of the 2nd half.
- DID YOU KNOW… Zvonimir Ivisic is one of two players in the NCAA who have at least 20 blocked shots and have made at least 20 3-pointers. Ivisic has 20 3’s made and 21 blocked shots and Bryant’s Connor Withers has 29 3’s made and 20 blocked shots.
For more information on Arkansas Men’s Basketball, follow @RazorbackMBB on Twitter.
FAYETTEVILLE – The Arkansas Razorbacks (11-4, 0-2 SEC) remain winless in conference play after a tough 73-66 loss to No. 23 Ole Miss (13-2, 2-0 SEC) on Wednesday night. Despite a strong start and home-court advantage, Arkansas couldn’t hold off the Rebels, who surged ahead in the second half to secure the win.
The Razorbacks opened with a commanding 10-5 lead, setting the tone for a competitive first half. Arkansas led for most of the period until Ole Miss tied the game at 36-36 on a Sean Pedulla three-pointer with just 31 seconds remaining in the half. That shot marked a pivotal moment, as it was the last time Arkansas held a lead in the game.
Coming out of halftime, Matthew Murrell’s layup gave Ole Miss an early advantage in the second half. Although Arkansas guard Boogie Fland quickly answered with a jump shot to tie the game at 38-38, the Rebels responded with a three-pointer from Davon Barnes, putting them ahead for good.
Ole Miss extended its lead in the final moments, with D.J. Wagner’s layup bringing the score to 72-64 with just 21 seconds remaining. Arkansas managed to close the gap slightly, but the Razorbacks couldn’t convert critical opportunities, leaving them with another SEC loss.
For Arkansas, the loss highlights the challenges of conference play and the need for resilience as they seek their first SEC win under legendary coach John Calipari. The Razorbacks will look to regroup and capitalize on their next opportunity to break into the conference win column.
Who: rv/rv Arkansas Razorbacks (11-3, 0-1 SEC) vs #23/22 Ole Miss Rebels (12-2, 1-0 SEC)
What: Arkansas plays its 2025 SEC home opener.
When: Wednesday – Jan. 8 – 6:00 pm (CT)
Where: Fayetteville, Ark. • Bud Walton Arena/Nolan Richardson Court (19,200)
How (to follow):
– TV/Stream: ESPN2 / Watch ESPN (Tom Hart and Dane Bradshaw)
– Radio: Learfield Razorback Sports Network (Chuck Barrett and Matt Zimmerman)
– Sirius/XM: Sirius: 132 / XM: 191 || SXM App Channel 961
– Arkansas Gameday App
– Live Stats
– Arkansas Game Notes
– Ole Miss Game Notes
– SEC Notes/Stats
FAYETTEVILLE – Arkansas will host #23/22 Ole Miss on Wednesday (Jan. 8) for the Razorbacks’ 2025 SEC home opener. Tipoff is set for 6 pm (CT) and the game will be televised on ESPN2.
Later this week, Arkansas stays in Fayetteville to host #8 Florida on Saturday (Jan. 11). Tipoff is set for 3 pm.
NOTES:
Versus Ole Miss
- This will be the 87th meeting between Arkansas and Ole Miss. Arkansas owns a 52-34 advantage all-time in the series thanks to an 18-11 mark in games played in Fayetteville and a 24-2 advantage in neutral-site games.
- Since Arkansas joined the SEC, the Razorback lead in the series is just 30-28 as the Hogs have won 9 of the last 12 in the series.
- Ole Miss won the last meeting, 77-51, on Jan. 24, 2024, in Oxford. Arkansas was short-handed in the loss as it was without leading scorer – Tramon Mark (migraine) – for the game and leading rebounder – Trevon Brazile (knee soreness) – missed the second half. Arkansas got off to a slow start with eight turnovers in the first nine minutes but only committed two the rest of the first half and ended with 14 for the game. Ole Miss outscored the Hogs 17-2 on points off turnovers and raced out to a 24-9 lead. However, Arkansas answered with a 14-5 run to cut its deficit to six (29-23) with 4:08 left in the first half. Ole Miss led 38-26 at the break and put the game away midway through the second half with an 8-0 run to go up 63-43 and held at least a 20-point cushion the rest of the way.
Arkansas in SEC Home Openers
- Arkansas will play its first SEC home game Wednesday by hosting Ole Miss.
- The Razorbacks are 20-13 all-time in SEC home openers.
- Arkansas is 4-4 when Ole Miss is the first home SEC game.
Razorbacks Are Pretty Good Shooting Overall
- Arkansas ranks 9th in the NCAA (2nd in the SEC) in overall field goal percentage at 50.7% while ranking 19th in the NCAA (3rd SEC) in effective FG% (57.3%).
Less of a Threat
- Arkansas is holding its opponents to 29.6% shooting from 3-point range. As good as that sounds, it ranks only 9th in the SEC but does rank 53rd in the NCAA.
Block Party
- Arkansas has blocked at least five shots nine times this season and ranks 5th nationally in blocked shots, averaging 6.0 per game.
For more information on Arkansas Men’s Basketball, follow @RazorbackMBB on X.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – In their SEC opener, top-ranked Tennessee leveraged its rebounding prowess and perimeter shooting to defeat #23 Arkansas 76-52 on Saturday afternoon at Thompson-Boling Arena. The Volunteers out-rebounded the Razorbacks 51-29 and converted 10-of-26 three-point attempts to maintain their top-ranking status. Chaz Lanier led the charge for Tennessee, scoring 29 points, including five three-pointers, while Igor Milicic Jr. contributed a double-double with 13 points and an impressive 18 rebounds.
Despite Arkansas shooting 38% from the field and delivering a strong defensive showing with 10 blocked shots, the Razorbacks struggled on the boards, conceding 24 offensive rebounds to Tennessee. The Volunteers’ ability to capitalize on second-chance opportunities proved critical, as they recorded 18 assists on their 28 made baskets compared to Arkansas’ nine assists on 20 field goals. The game marked Arkansas’ first time losing the second half this season, as Tennessee extended its lead after halftime to secure the win.
In the first half, Arkansas held an early 12-9 lead before Tennessee’s 14-2 run shifted the momentum. The Razorbacks faced scoring droughts and struggled from the free-throw line, going just 3-of-8 compared to Tennessee’s 7-of-8. Tennessee dominated the boards, out-rebounding Arkansas 27-12 in the first half, and entered the break with a 42-27 lead. Chaz Lanier scored 14 of his game-high 29 points in the opening period, while D.J. Wagner led Arkansas with eight points, contributing to his season-high 17-point performance.
The second half saw both teams struggle offensively, with Tennessee shooting 37.5% and Arkansas 34.5% from the field. However, the Volunteers continued to excel from beyond the arc, making 5-of-12 three-pointers compared to Arkansas’ 2-of-17. Tennessee’s lead never dipped below 13 points, thanks to timely three-pointers and contributions from Lanier, who added 15 points in the second half. Jonas Aidoo also made an impact in the period, recording all five of his rebounds and four points.
The loss drops Arkansas to 10-4 overall and 0-1 in SEC play, while Tennessee improves to 14-0 and 1-0 in the conference. The Razorbacks will look to bounce back as they return to Bud Walton Arena for a two-game homestand starting with Ole Miss on Wednesday, January 8, at 6 p.m. The game will be televised on ESPN2, offering Arkansas a chance to regroup and refocus after a challenging start to conference play.
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