Sports

Hogs upset Kentucky in Cal’s return

Published

4 months ago

February 2, 2025

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Arkansas used one of the team’s best shooting performances of the season to upset No. 12 Kentucky 89-79 in Head Coach John Calipari’s return to Rupp Arena on Saturday night.

The Razorbacks made 13 3-pointers – the second-most in a game this season and the most in a road game vs. a ranked opponent since 2019 – to down the Wildcats on an emotional night. The two teams battled back-and-forth throughout the first half with neither team leading by more than six. Karter Knox’s 3-pointer with in the final minute of the half gave the hogs a 46-45 lead at the half.

Arkansas opened the second half with a 12-2 run to take a commanding lead that the Hogs never gave up, leading the rest of the game. Kentucky cut the deficit to six points with just under seven minutes remaining but the Hogs responded with a Zvonimir Ivisic 3-pointer to push the lead back to nine before Nelly Davis pushed the lead back to 11 points when laid one in with 5:54 on the clock.

Five Razorbacks scored in double digits led by Kentucky transfer Adou Thiero’s team-high 21. Thiero added eight rebounds while going 10-for-12 from the free throw line. Fellow Kentucky transfers DJ Wagner (17 points) and Ivisic (14 points) were key in the victory as the former Wildcat trio combined for 52 points in their return to Rupp Arena. Davis matched his season-best with 18 points on 7-of-14 shooting while Karter Knox chipped in 10 points. Arkansas shot 55.2% (32-58) from the field for the game, including 64.0% (16-25) in the second half.

Amari Williams led all scorers with 22 points for the Wildcats with former Razorback Jaxson Robinson adding 20 for Kentucky.

Arkansas returns to action on Wednesday night at Texas with tipoff set for 8 p.m. (CT) on ESPN2.

FIRST HALF: Arkansas: 46 – Kentucky: 45

Kentucky made its first four 3-point attempts to take an early 18-12 lead. Arkansas was 4-of-7 from deep to start.
Billy Richmond III had a steal and dunk to tie the game at 20-20.
Arkansas had seven assists on its first eight made baskets, including four from D.J. Wagner.
Thiero made back-to-back baskets and Knox capped a 6-0 run with a fastbreak dunk to give Arkansas a 31-30 lead and force a UK timeout. Davis hit a 3-pointer to extend the run to 9-0 and a 34-30 lead.
Knox hit a 3-pointer with 32 seconds left to provide the 46-45 Razorback lead at the break.
Davis was 3-of-5 from 3-point and led Arkansas with 12 first-half points. Thiero added 11 and Knox eight.
Arkansas finished the half with 11 assists on 16 made baskets.
Jaxson Robinson led UK with 12 points, making all three of his 3’s.
Arkansas forced eight first-half turnovers and out-scored the Wildcats 14-5 on fastbreaks.

SECOND HALF: Arkansas: 43 – Kentucky: 34

Arkansas opened the second half with a 12-2 spurt to lead 58-47.
Wagner hit a 3-pointer and Knox had a fastbreak dunk to put Arkansas up 67-56 and force a UK timeout with 13:02 to play.
Kentucky got to within six (76-70) with 6:58 left before Ivisic answered with a 3-pointer and Davis converted a fast break layup to put the Hogs up 11 (81-70) with 5:54 remaining.
Kentucky made a final push, getting to within eight with 5:05 left. Wagner made a free throw, Thiero made a free throw, Thiero made a layup and Wagner sank a jumper to put the game out of reach and give Arkansas a 14-point lead (87-73) with 2:49 left
Wagner played all 20:00 minutes of the second half and scored all 17 of his points in the period.
Arkansas shot 64% from the field in the second half while holding Kentucky to 39.4%.
Kentucky was 7-of-10 from 3-point range in the first half but was just 3-of-13 in the second. The ‘Cats were also just 5-of-10 at the free throw line.

GAME NOTES:

For the first time this season, Arkansas’ starting lineup was D.J. Wagner, Johnell Davis, Karter Knox, Adou Thiero and Zvonimir Ivisic. It is Arkansas’ eighth starting lineup this season.
Arkansas won the opening tip. The Razorbacks have won the tip in 17 of 21 games this year.
Johnell Davis scored game’s first points, a 3-ponter at 19:49.
Trevon Brazile was Arkansas’ first sub.
Arkansas was out-rebounded 33-30 and won for just the second time (2-7) this year when being out-rebounded.
Arkansas had 17 assists. The Hogs only had 16 assists total over the previous two games combined.
Arkansas made 13 3-pointers. The Hogs only had 12 3-pointers in the previous two games combined.
Arkansas made 13-pointers. It was the second-most this year (making 15 versus UMES) and tied for the most by Arkansas versus a ranked opponent in a true road game. (Also made 13 at #19 LSU on 2/2/19.)
Arkansas has been impressive defending the 3-point shot in the second half. Kentucky was just 3-of-13 from deep in the second half. In the last four games (at Missouri, Georgia, Oklahoma and Kentucky), opponents are a combined 5-of-29 (17.2%) in the second half from deep. (Note, in the first half over the span, opponents are 28-of-52 (53.8%).
Arkansas got its first ever road win over a team ranked #12 in the AP poll, improving to 1-3 all-time in such games. Overall, Arkansas is now 7-8 when playing #12 (3-2 at home, 1-3 on the road and 3-3 at neutral sites.)
However, Coach Calipari is now 6-0 when playing an opponent ranked #12. He was 1-0 at UMass, 4-0 at Kentucky and now 1-0 at Arkansas. It was his first win versus #12 on the road.
Coach Calipari is now 249-28 in games played in Rupp Arena. He was 0-1 at UMass, 0-1 at Memphis, 249-26 as UK head coach and now 1-0 at Arkansas.
D.J. Wagner and Johnell Davis combined for 14 assists and three turnovers. Wagner had a season-high eight helpers and Davis tied his season high with six.
Adou Thiero had three steals, his best effort in an SEC game. He has a steal in nine straight games and 17 over the span.
Johnell Davis had two steals and has nine over the last three games. He only had 10 steals in the previous 16 games combined.
D.J. Wagner tied his season high with 17 points. It was his second-best effort in an SEC game. Ironically, his career best in an SEC game was scoring 19 versus Arkansas in Rupp Arena last March.
Arkansas and Kentucky have met on 51 previous occasions, all but four since Arkansas joined the SEC (1991-92). Arkansas snapped a three-game losing streak to the Wildcats. Despite the loss tonight, Kentucky owns a 36-15 advantage in the series, including a 32-15 mark in SEC games.
Arkansas has won three of the last four meetings in Lexington. However, Kentucky still owns a 16-6 advantage all-time in games played at Kentucky.
Razorback head coach John Calipari is 3-4 all-time when facing Kentucky and is 1-2 when facing the Wildcats in Rupp Arena.
Arkansas is 8-1 this year when leading at the half, 11-2 when leading with 10 minutes to play, 11-0 when leading with five minutes to play and 11-0 when leading with two minutes to play.

For more information on Arkansas Men’s Basketball, follow @RazorbackMBB on X.

Sports

SouthArk Announces New Men’s Basketball Coach

Published

1 day ago

May 22, 2025

Grant Merrill

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

3 weeks 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

3 weeks 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.

Sports

Arkansas Softball Takes On LSU This Weekend

Published

3 weeks ago

April 30, 2025

Staff Reports

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – No. 6/8 Arkansas wraps up its regular season with a top-10 showdown against No. 10 LSU this Thursday through Saturday at Bogle Park. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, with Saturday’s finale beginning at 1 p.m. All games will stream on SEC Network+.

Arkansas (36-10, 12-9 SEC) is riding high after securing its highest-ranked series win in program history last weekend at No. 1/2 Texas A&M. The Razorbacks claimed the first two games, marking their fifth straight SEC series victory and fourth series win over a Top 10 opponent this season.

The Hogs have notched a program-best 21 run-rule wins and have outscored opponents 356-128. Defensively, they lead the nation with a .985 fielding percentage and have committed just 17 errors in 46 games.

This weekend is packed with promotions: a replica jersey giveaway and Autism Awareness Night on Thursday, a Red Out and postgame base run on Friday, and Senior Day and a trading card giveaway on Saturday.

In the polls, Arkansas reached a program-high No. 2 in the Softball America rankings and remains in the Top 10 across all major national polls.

LSU (39-11, 11-10 SEC) enters the series after a road series win over No. 8 Florida. The Tigers are batting .341 as a team, led by freshman Tori Edwards (.423, 18 HR, 68 RBI). In the circle, LSU holds a 2.72 ERA, led by Sydney Berzon (17-5, 2.29 ERA).

Freshman standout Ella McDowell is hitting .397 with 56 hits and 47 RBI, leading Arkansas in SEC play with a .420 average. She has earned SEC Freshman of the Week honors three times and was recently named D1 Softball National Player of the Week.

First baseman Bri Ellis is putting up historic numbers, batting .491 with 24 home runs and a 1.863 OPS — the best in the nation and potentially the highest single-season OPS since 2016.

In the circle, junior lefty Robyn Herron leads the Razorbacks with a 15-4 record, 2.25 ERA, and 127 strikeouts. Opponents are hitting just .178 against her.

Outfielder Reagan Johnson continues to climb the Razorbacks’ record books, now the program’s all-time batting average leader (.376). She has recorded multiple 70+ hit seasons and ranks top five in career stolen bases.

As a team, Arkansas has advanced runners in 58% of opportunities this season and is 169-46 under Coach Courtney Deifel when playing error-free.

Sports

Hogs Seek First Series Win At Florida Since 2012

Published

4 weeks ago

April 25, 2025

Staff Reports

(PHOTO: University of Arkansas Sports Information)

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Fifth-ranked Arkansas (36-7, 13-5 SEC) travels to Condron Family Ballpark for a key three-game SEC series against Florida (28-15, 6-12 SEC) from April 25-27. The Razorbacks are chasing their first series win in Gainesville since 2012.

Game 1 is set for 5:30 p.m. CT Friday on SEC Network+, with Sean Kelley and Nick Belmonte on the call. The series continues Saturday at 2 p.m. on SEC Network and concludes Sunday at noon on SEC Network+.

Arkansas enters the weekend in second place in the SEC standings but is looking to bounce back after dropping back-to-back series for the first time this season. A third straight SEC series loss would be the program’s first since 2016.

The Razorbacks have won two of three SEC road series this year, including a sweep at then-No. 14 Vanderbilt. Arkansas snapped a 15-year drought without a series win at Vanderbilt in March and now hopes to do the same at Florida.

The pitching matchups are set:
Friday – Arkansas LHP Zach Root (5-2, 4.19 ERA) vs. Florida RHP Liam Peterson (6-2, 3.74 ERA)
Saturday – Arkansas RHP Gage Wood (0-0, 6.14 ERA) vs. Florida RHP Aidan King (4-1, 3.63 ERA)
Sunday – Arkansas LHP Landon Beidelschies (4-0, 4.06 ERA), Florida starter TBD

Fans can also listen to the Razorback Sports Network with Phil Elson on the call, available via the Razorback app and affiliate stations.

Historically, Arkansas holds a narrow 38-36 edge in the all-time series, but trails 13-20 in games played in Gainesville. Under head coach Dave Van Horn, the Razorbacks are 10-14 on the road against Florida. The Hogs have won two of their last three series against the Gators, both in Fayetteville, but dropped the 2022 series in Gainesville.

Arkansas has recorded 18 or more SEC wins in seven straight seasons and finished with 20 or more wins five times, including four under Van Horn. They are the first team since LSU (1994–97) to post four 20-win SEC campaigns in five years.

With a strong record and postseason positioning on the line, the Razorbacks hope to end a 13-year Gainesville slump and stay among the conference elite.