Sports

Hogs, UCA to square off in North Little Rock

Published

6 months ago

December 14, 2024

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.

Sports

Hogs Punch Ticket To Super Regionals

Published

6 days ago

June 2, 2025

Staff Reports

FAYETTEVILLE – Arkansas (46-13) secured its spot in the NCAA Super Regionals with a dominant 8-3 win over Creighton (43-16) Sunday night at Baum-Walker Stadium. With the victory, the Hogs set a program record with their 35th home win of the season and will host next weekend’s super regional against either Tennessee or Wake Forest.

The appearance marks Arkansas’ 11th super regional in program history and sixth time hosting, including four since 2018. With top seeds Vanderbilt and Texas eliminated, No. 3 Arkansas is now the highest remaining seed in the tournament.

Pitching stole the spotlight as Gage Wood and Gabe Gaeckle combined for 20 strikeouts. Wood struck out a career-high 13 over six innings, while Gaeckle fanned seven in three scoreless innings to close it out.

The Razorback bats backed up the pitching with four home runs. Logan Maxwell launched two—including a two-run homer in the first and a solo shot in the fifth—while Justin Thomas Jr. hit a three-run blast and Ryder Helfrick added a solo homer. Charles Davalan capped the scoring with an RBI triple in the sixth.

Creighton’s only offense came via a three-run homer in the fourth, but Arkansas never relinquished its lead.

Maxwell led the offense with a three-RBI night and raised his season average to .346. Helfrick, who hit his third homer in two days, was named MVP of the Fayetteville Regional.

Sports

Hogs set to host Fayetteville regional

Published

2 weeks ago

May 27, 2025

Staff Reports

FAYETTEVILLE – Arkansas has earned its 36th NCAA Tournament berth and will host the Fayetteville Regional as the No. 3 national seed.

The Razorbacks (43-13) will play No. 4 seed North Dakota State (20-31) in the opening game at 2 p.m. Friday, May 30, at Baum-Walker Stadium, airing on ESPN+. The regional also features No. 2 seed Kansas (43-15) and No. 3 seed Creighton (41-14), who will face off at 7 p.m.

Arkansas is hosting a regional for the 12th time in program history and the seventh time in the last eight full seasons. Should they advance, the Hogs would maintain home-field advantage through the super regional round, which they would host for the sixth time overall.

The Razorbacks boast a 32-4 record at Baum-Walker this season, just two wins shy of tying the single-season home record of 34.

The winner of the Fayetteville Regional will meet the winner of the Knoxville Regional, where No. 14 seed Tennessee hosts Wake Forest, Cincinnati, and Miami (OH), in the super regionals from June 6-9.

A record 13 SEC teams qualified for this year’s tournament: Arkansas, Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi State, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Texas, and Vanderbilt. That breaks the previous record of 11 SEC teams, set last year. Eight SEC schools, including Arkansas, are hosting regionals.

Fayetteville Regional Schedule:

Friday, May 30
Game 1 – Arkansas vs. NDSU – 2 p.m.
Game 2 – Kansas vs. Creighton – 7 p.m.

Saturday, May 31
Game 3 – Game 1 Loser vs. Game 2 Loser – 2 p.m.
Game 4 – Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner – 8 p.m.

Sunday, June 1
Game 5 – Game 3 Winner vs. Game 4 Loser – 2 p.m.
Game 6 – Game 4 Winner vs. Game 5 Winner – 8 p.m.

Monday, June 2 (If Necessary)
Game 7 – Time TBD

Sports

SouthArk Announces New Men’s Basketball Coach

Published

2 weeks ago

May 22, 2025

Staff Reports

EL DORADO — South Arkansas College has named Eric Collins of Augusta, Maine, as the next head coach of its men’s basketball team. Collins, a U.S. Army veteran and experienced coach, will become the third head coach in the program’s history, succeeding Cam Robinson, who held the position for three seasons.

Collins currently serves as the associate head coach at the University of Maine-Augusta, a member of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA). He brings more than five years of coaching experience at both the high school and collegiate levels in the Northeast.

A Maine native, Collins describes his coaching philosophy as rooted in four pillars: passion, leadership, culture, and accountability.

“I coach to build men—not just players,” Collins said. “My mission is to lead through relationships, set a shared standard of excellence, and create a culture where young men grow—as athletes, students, and people. My family and I are pumped to become part of the SouthArk and El Dorado communities.”

SouthArk Athletic Director Jenny Sanders expressed excitement over Collins’ hiring, noting his energy and commitment to student development.

“Coach Eric Collins brings immense passion and excitement to the campus and to the basketball court,” Sanders said. “I am excited to see the lasting impact he will have on the young men he coaches, on our campus, and within our community.”

Collins, along with his wife Brandi and their children, will officially relocate to El Dorado ahead of his full-time start date on July 1. In the meantime, he is actively recruiting to fill out the Star Force roster for the upcoming season.

Sports

Legendary Arkansas Coach Passes Away Saturday

Published

1 month ago

May 4, 2025

Staff Reports

Harold Horton

FAYETTEVILLE – Harold Horton, a revered figure in Arkansas football history, passed away on Saturday at the age of 86. His family confirmed his passing through social media.

Born in DeWitt, Arkansas, Horton played as a defensive back for the University of Arkansas Razorbacks from 1959 to 1961 under legendary coach Frank Broyles. During his playing career, the Razorbacks secured or shared the Southwest Conference (SWC) championship each season and won the 1960 Gator Bowl.

After a brief stint coaching high school football, Horton returned to the University of Arkansas in 1968 as an assistant coach. Over the next 13 years, he served under Broyles and later Lou Holtz, helping to shape some of the Razorbacks’ most formidable defensive units.

In 1982, Horton became head coach at the University of Central Arkansas, where he compiled a remarkable 74–12–5 record over eight seasons. Under his leadership, UCA won back-to-back NAIA Division I national championships in 1984 and 1985 and captured seven consecutive Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference titles from 1983 to 1989.

University of Central Arkansas (UCA) Head Coach Nathan Brown paid tribute to Horton, stating, “Prayers for the Coach Harold Horton family today. Coach Horton was one of the great coaches in UCA Football history. Him and his staffs brought championships and pride to the Bear program. Thanks for always supporting and rooting for me and the Bears over the years.”

Following his coaching career, Horton returned to the University of Arkansas in 1990 to work in football operations. He later served as president of the Razorback Foundation from 2001 to 2012, playing a key role in fundraising and athletic development initiatives. His devotion to the Razorbacks spanned nearly four decades.

Horton’s legacy lives on through his family, including his son, Tim Horton, a former Razorbacks wide receiver who went on to a successful college coaching career of his own.

Sports

Hogs Shut Out Texas In Series Opener

Published

1 month ago

May 2, 2025

Staff Reports

FAYETTEVILLE – Behind a dominant outing from Zach Root, No. 11 Arkansas (38-9, 15-7 SEC) rolled to a 9-0 shutout win over No. 1 Texas (38-6, 19-3 SEC) in Thursday night’s series opener at Baum-Walker Stadium.

Root struck out a career-high 11 batters and allowed just two hits and two walks over a career-long eight innings. Veteran reliever Will McEntire closed out the combined two-hit shutout with a scoreless ninth, adding three strikeouts.

With the win, Arkansas improved to 28-3 at home this season and secured its eighth straight year with at least 28 home victories. The Razorbacks have now reached that milestone every full season since 2017.

The offense gave Root plenty of support early. Carson Boles launched a two-run homer in the second inning to put the Hogs on top, 2-0. Cam Kozeal extended the lead to 5-0 in the third with a two-out, three-run shot to right center.

Arkansas broke the game open in the fourth with four more runs. Justin Thomas Jr. drove in one with a single, followed by a two-run double from Wehiwa Aloy and an RBI single from Kuhio Aloy, giving the Razorbacks a 9-0 cushion.

Kozeal finished with three RBIs and is now slashing .362/.409/.656 with 11 home runs and 52 RBIs this season. Wehiwa Aloy raised his team-best slash line to .369/.454/.723.

The Razorbacks will look to clinch the series Friday night. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. on the SEC Network with Karl Ravech and Kyle Peterson on the call.