Team effort pushes Razorbacks past Bearcats

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. –  University of Arkansas Head Basketball Coach Mike Anderson’s “Fastest 40 Minutes of Basketball” was on full display Friday night at Bud Walton Arena as the Razorbacks downed Southwest Baptist 106-78 in an exhibition game.

“We took advantage of our size and athletic ability against a team that had shooters,” Anderson said.

At the close of the game a total of 12 Razorbacks tallied points as the fast-paced offense took over the arena. As a team the Razorbacks were 38-of-72 in field goals made and 6-of-14 from the three-point line. The Razorbacks also tallied a whopping 24 points on the free-throw line, (24-of-26) and out-rebounded the Bearcats 40-31.

“Our defense kept them off kilter to start the game,” Anderson said. “We were active on defense all night.”

The Arkansas freshman recorded 36 total points, with guard Anthlon Bell leading the team with 17 points. Forward Jacorey Williams led the UA with seven rebounds.

As every Razorback tallied multiple highlights it was freshman guard Michael Qualls who had Razorback fans on their feet with four dunks on the Bearcats. Bell also had the fans cheering after going 3-of-3 from the three-point line, accounting for half of the Razorback three-pointers.

“I was happy to see 26 assists tonight as we moved the ball,” Anderson said. “We need to work and work and we could be a team that could develop and be a team to be reckoned with.”

With the score 23-15 in favor of the Razorbacks, Arkansas went on a 19-3 run to put them up by 24 points, which was their largest lead of the first half. The Razorback offense exploded on the Bearcats as they scored 50 first half points split between 10 players.

The Razorbacks would enter the locker room with a 22-point lead after a dunk by Qualls with two seconds on the clock, 50-28. Bell led all scorers with nine first half points. The Razorback defense capitalized off the 16 Bearcat turnovers scoring 21 points in the first.

At the start of the second half, the Razorbacks scored the first six points putting them up 28 points, 56-28. Powell exploded at the beginning of the second half scoring nine points in the first four minutes of play.

Southwest Baptist would begin to slowly trim away at the large Razorback lead. The Bearcats went on a quick 14-4 run to cut the Razorback lead to 22 points, 79-57. The Razorbacks would respond with another impressive offensive showing going on a 21-9 run to lead the Bearcats 100-66 with 3:53 remaining.

The Bearcats would string together a 12-4 run putting the score at 104-78, however time would get the better of them, as sophomore forward Hunter Mickelson recorded the final basket to put the final score at 106-78.

The Razorbacks return to the court on Monday night, Nov. 5, at 7 p.m., as they face LeMoyne-Owen in their final exhibition game. The Razorbacks open the regular season next Friday, Nov. 9, when they take on Sam Houston State at 7 p.m. in Bud Walton Arena.

For more information regarding Razorback men’s basketball or University of Arkansas athletics, please visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com.