Razorbacks return from holidays

Following a good win against a very long Texas Southern team, the University of Arkansas Razorback men’s basketball team took a four-day hiatus from the gym to celebrate the holidays and now turn its attention to the North Carolina A&T Aggies whom they take on at Bud Walton Arena on Wednesday night at 7 p.m.

Arkansas (8-2) is off to a great start to the season and has yet to lose a game in regulation or at home with its only two losses coming in overtime to UAB and No. 25 Texas A&M and both away from Bud Walton Arena. Sophomore shooting guard Rotnei Clarke was back to his old form after a rare zero point contest with 22 against Texas Southern to lead the Razorbacks including four three-point baskets and is now just 19 points from becoming the 34th member of the 1,000-point club in Arkansas history.

North Carolina A&T (5-6) has lost each of its last three contests including a 56-50 defeat at the hands of Arizona State on Dec. 23, its last game before the holiday. The Aggies are familiar, if not unlucky, against the SEC as it holds losses to both Mississippi State, 74-58, and Florida, 105-55. North Carolina A&T does have victories against North Carolina Wesleyan, UNC Wilmington, Greensboro College, UNC Greensboro and Norfolk State. Thomas Coleman is the centerpiece and center for the Aggies and is averaging a double-double with 14.6 points and 11.0 rebounds per game. In 10 games, he is averaging 29.8 minutes of action and shooting 57 percent from the floor. Other scorers for the Aggies include Nic Simpson (13.5 points) and Marc Hill (10.5 points).

The Arkansas-North Carolina A&T game will be broadcast on the radio across the state of Arkansas on the Razorback Sports Network from IMG College with Chuck Barrett and Rick Schaeffer giving the call. Barrett is in his first season as the play-by-play voice of the Razorbacks, replacing the legendary Mike Nail who held the position for 29 years. The game will also be carried live on TV by the Razorback Sports Network with Scott Inman and Blake Eddins calling the action.

Following the contest with North Carolina A&T, Arkansas has a quick turnaround and takes on Texas-Arlington at Bud Walton Arena on New Year’s Eve, Friday, Dec. 31, at 7 p.m.