No. 18 @RazorbackMBB Opens March At South Carolina

AT A GLANCE
After a 7-1 record in the month of February, No. 18/18 Arkansas will attempt to lock up the No. 2 seed in the upcoming SEC Tournament when it opens play in March at South Carolina on Thursday. The Razorbacks can clinch the No. 2 seed with a win and will look for their first win at Colonial Life Arena (0-6) since it opened in 2002. Thursday will be Arkansas’ fifth road game in its last seven outings.

• Arkansas owns sole possession of second place in the SEC standings at 12-4.
• Five SEC road wins are the most since 1995.
• Arkansas (No. 17) is one of six SEC teams in the ESPN RPI top 50.
• One of eight teams with three top 50 RPI road wins and owns a 5-3 mark vs. the top 50.
• Ranked in both the AP Top 25 and USA Today Coaches Poll for the fourth straight week.

#RAZORFACT
Arkansas is 19-0 this season when forcing opponents into 15 or more turnovers. In their win over South Carolina at the start of February, the Razorbacks forced 20 turnovers.

@RAZORBACKMBB FAST BREAK FACTS
• No. 18 in the Associated Press Top 25 for the third straight week and in both national polls for the fourth consecutive week and seventh time this year.
• Own a 1.5 game lead on second place in the SEC standings.
• Most overall wins (23) since 2007-08 and the most SEC wins (12) since 1995.
• Best start through the first 16 SEC games since 1993-94.
• One of 19 teams in the country with 23 or more wins.
• Won 18 of its last 23 SEC regular season games dating back to last year.
• Own a 6-2 record in SEC games decided by five points or less and have won four conference games after trailing at the half, including three on the road.
• Own a 5-3 record in SEC road games, good for the second-most wins in program history.
• Won eight of its last 13 SEC road games dating back to last year … previous eight SEC road wins took 51 attempts.
• Currently No. 17 in the ESPN RPI with a 5-3 record against the top 50.
• One of eight teams with three top 50 RPI road wins – SMU (No. 20), Georgia (No. 35) & Ole Miss (No. 42).
• No. 5 seed in the East Region in Joe Lunardi’s most recent Bracketology released on March 4 that includes six SEC teams.
• Rank in the top 10 nationally in points (79.1/T-8th), assists (16.9/6th), assist/turnover ratio (1.4/10th) and turnover margin (+4.7/6th).
• Won 28 straight games when leading at the half.
• Lead the SEC in overall scoring (79.1) and in SEC games (74.6).
• Own a 19-0 record when forcing 15+ turnovers.

WITH A WIN …
• Clinch the No. 2 seed in the SEC Tournament, which would mark the third straight year Arkansas has improved its seed by at least two spots in the conference tournament under head coach MIKE ANDERSON.
• Would equal the most SEC road wins in program history set in 1993-94.
• Would equal the second-most SEC wins in program single-season history set in 1991-92 (first year in the SEC).
• Snap a six-game losing streak at Colonial Life Arena.
• Complete a regular season sweep of South Carolina in the first year that the two teams have meet twice in the regular season.

SERIES INFO.
All-Time Series: Arkansas leads, 16-12
Since Arkansas Joined The SEC: Same
At Colonial Life Arena: South Carolina leads, 6-0

This year marks the first time the two programs have met twice in the regular season, as Arkansas looks for its first back-to-back wins over South Carolina since 1997-98 and 1998-99. The home team has won six straight and 11 of the last 12 meetings held on campus. Arkansas’ 20-point win over the Gamecocks in February was the fourth-largest margin of victory in the all-time series, all by the Razorbacks.

COACHING MATCHUP
@RazorbackMBB
Head Coach: Mike Anderson (Tulsa ‘82)
Record at Arkansas: 82-45 (4th Season)
Overall Record: 282-143 (13th Season)
Vs. South Carolina: 3-2

South Carolina
Head Coach: Frank Martin (FIU ‘93)
Record at South Carolina: 42-52 (3rd Season)
Overall Record: 159-106 (8th Season)
Vs. Arkansas: 2-2

STARTING 5 QUICK 5 HITS
#31 | Anton BEARD (G)
• Named SEC Freshman of the Week on Feb. 23.
• Started the last nine games (7-2), averaging 8.9 points.
• Hit 10-of-17 from three-point land the last five games.
• Reached double figures seven times in SEC play after once in non-conf.
• Taken a team-high 13 charges.
#00 | Rashad MADDEN (G)
• 32nd all-time in program history with 1,049 career points.
• His 136 assists are the most by a Razorback since 2008-09.
• Sixth all-time in assists (342), just nine back of the top five.
• Team leader with a plus/minus rating of +235 on the year.
• Second in the SEC in assists (4.7) and free throw percentage (.873).
#24 | Michael QUALLS (G)
• Just 33 points shy of 1,000 for his career.
• Eighth in the SEC in scoring at 15.2 points per game.
• T-3rd in the SEC with nine 20-point games, including eight at home.
• Has appeared on the #SCtop10 12 times in his career.
• Increased scoring average by 10.6 points since his freshman season.
#02 | Alandise HARRIS (F)
• Returned to the starting lineup 12 games (10-2) ago.
• Four of six double figure games in SEC play have come on the road.
• Scored 1,163 points over his career at Arkansas and Houston.
• One of six players in the SEC with 25 steals and 25 blocks.
• Reached double figures in both games last week.
#10 | Bobby PORTIS (F)
• Went for 18 points and 13 rebounds against South Carolina in February.
• Two-time SEC Player of the Week.
• Averaging 18.1 points and 9.1 rebounds in SEC play.
• SEC leader in double-doubles (8) in league action.
• Career-best 24 straight games in double figures.

BP MODE
Currently the only player in the SEC in the top 5 in scoring (17.5/2nd), rebounding (8.5/4th), offensive rebounds (3.4/2nd) and field goal percentage (.563/1st), sophomore BOBBY PORTIS has continued to etch his name in the Arkansas record books.

• First player in program history with five straight double-doubles in SEC regular season action.
• First player in program history with 30 points and 10 rebounds in an SEC game against Vanderbilt with 32 points and 11 boards.
• Earlier in the year, Portis became the first player in program history to go for 18+ points and 7+ rebounds in six straight games since CORLISS WILLIAMSON did during his sophomore season in 1994.
• Just the fifth player to record multiple 30-point games in his career against SEC opponents, joining TODD DAY (4), JANNERO PARGO (3), SCOTTY THURMAN (3) and JONATHON MODICA (2).