Tough road test ahead

The University of Arkansas basketball team is coming off a hard fought double-overtime win over Auburn and has its hands full when it travels to Southeastern Conference leader Ole Miss for a 12;47 p.m. start at the C.M. “Tad” Smith Coliseum on Saturday afternoon.

Arkansas (11-5, 2-1 SEC) hopes to keep the momentum of two straight SEC wins going when it makes its second conference road appearance of the season.  The Razorbacks have been led by the inside-out duo of Marshawn Powell (15.2 ppg, 5.8 rpg) and BJ Young (17.4 ppg, 4.1 apg), who both came up big for the Razorbacks against Auburn as they combined for 50 points, 17 rebounds, seven assists and three steals.

While Arkansas’ offense began to come around against Auburn, it is the play of the Razorback defense that is keeping things difficult for opponents.  The Razorbacks rank No. 2 in the SEC in scoring defense and field-goal percentage defense, holding the opposition to 60.7 points and 38.8 percent from the floor.

Ole Miss (14-2, 3-0 SEC) has had an extra day of rest after playing in its own overtime game on Tuesday night at Vanderbilt, a game that the Rebels came from behind to win, 89-79.  The Rebels are looking for their first 4-0 start in league play since the 1936-37 season.  Ole Miss is very good in the paint with forwards Murphy Holloway and Reginald Buckner who are both averaging double digit points and more than eight rebounds per game, but it has been the shooting of Marshall Henderson that has given the Rebels a real spark and the transfer is averaging 19.1 points and hitting 36 percent from beyond the arc.

Arkansas and Ole Miss have played 70 times since their first meeting in 1937-38.  Arkansas holds the all-time series lead, but Ole Miss holds a two-game advantage since the Razorbacks joined the SEC and have won each of the last five meetings between the two programs.

The Razorback game against Ole Miss 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 SEC Network with Dave Baker and Barry Booker on air.