Tough home game awaits men's basketball

The University of Arkansas basketball team got a short break for the holidays and returns to the court on Saturday, Dec. 29, to face a tough opponent in Northwestern State at Bud Walton Arena beginning at 7 p.m.

University of Arkansas students who do not have a student-access pass and wish to attend the game may purchase a ticket for $1, with a valid student ID, and get up to two guest tickets for $5 each at the East entrance to the arena with cash or check only.  Junior Razorbacks will be granted free admission by showing their membership card and their guests may purchase $10 tickets at the East entrance to Bud Walton Arena.  Saturday’s contest is also the first game of the White mini-plan and those packages may be purchased up to game time.

The Razorbacks (7-4) have won three straight games including a 95-68 victory over Alabama A&M at Verizon Arena in Little Rock last Saturday.  The win for the Razorbacks ended a three-year winless streak in central Arkansas and allowed the Hogs to match their longest winning stretch of the season.

Junior Marshawn Powell led the Razorbacks in scoring against the Bulldogs with 20 points and with the effort became the 35th Razorback in school history to eclipse the 1,000-point plateau.  Combined with his 400-plus rebounds and 70 blocked shots, Powell is just the ninth Arkansas player in nearly 100 years of basketball to reach the three milestones.

Northwestern State (5-3) has impressive stats and is a quality opponent who has been road tested this season.  The Demons only losses have come at the hands of LSU, Texas A&M and Oklahoma, and Northwestern State ranks No. 2 in the nation in scoring offense at 86.3 points per game.

Arkansas and Northwestern State are familiar foes having faced each other eight times over the years.  The Razorbacks hold a 7-1 lead in the all-time series which includes six straight victories against the Demons.  Arkansas and Northwestern State last faced each other in the fall of 2008 when the Razorbacks defeated the Demons, 95-56.

The Razorback game against Northwestern State will be broadcast on the radio across the Razorback Sports Network from IMG College with Chuck Barrett and Rick Schaeffer giving the call.  The game will also be carried live on the Razorback Sports Network with Scott Inman and former Razorback Blake Eddins on air.

Following the game with Northwestern State, Arkansas faces Delaware State on Saturday, Jan. 5, in its final non-conference game of the regular season.