Washington post double-double

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Senior Michael Washington led all scorers with a double-double of 25 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Arkansas men’s basketball team to a 77-59 exhibition victory over Dillard University on Monday night at Bud Walton Arena.

Head coach John Pelphrey’s Razorbacks dominated the lane with Washington, freshman Glenn Bryant and others as they scored 40 points inside the paint. The Razorbacks were not without the outside shot as well as sophomore Rotnei Clarke scored 14 points in the win.

"We play exhibition games for a reason," Pelphrey said. "It is good for us to get some of the younger players out there and get them used to playing in front of bigger crowds. The exhibition games also give us a better understanding of where the team is. Being a young team at certain positions, we had a couple of turnovers on a few possessions, but Mike Washington really stepped up for us tonight and got the offense going again."

The Razorbacks took the early lead on the back of a pair of three-point baskets by Clarke. Arkansas’ sniper from long range, Clarke gave the Razorbacks a 6-2 lead in the opening moments, but Dillard responded by driving the ball to the basket and pulled ahead 7-6.

Finding themselves in a tight game, Arkansas countered with a 15-7 run to take a 10-point lead midway through the half, but the seesaw battle continued as Dillard came back to within three. Glenn Bryant and Jamal Farmer made it a seven-point game with back-to-back buckets. The close contest then saw Arkansas go on another run of 26-12 over the final seven minutes of the half to lead at the break by 19, 47-28.

Washington, who was named a first-team preseason All-SEC selection earlier in the day, was dominating in the first half with 17 points in just 10 minutes of play. Washington was 7-8 from the floor including a pair of three-point baskets to lead all scorers at the break.

Dillard came out shooting in the second half and scored the first six points, but Arkansas responded with eight of the next 10 points and never looked back. The Bleu Devils did make a late run in the contest, but never pulled within 18 points of the Razorbacks.

Three Razorbacks scored in double digits on the night led by Washington’s 25. The other Razorbacks who put up double-digit numbers were Clarke and Bryant, who were able to put up 14 and 17 points respectively. Bryant also had a double-double with 10 rebounds to go along with his 17 points.

Impressive in the Razorback victory is that they did it without the aid of 6-7 freshman forward Marshawn Powell who missed the game because of an illness. Powell scored 19 points in Arkansas’ Red-White game and could have been another scorer in the paint.

The Razorbacks are back in action on Thursday, Nov. 5, when they take on Lemoyne-Owen University in their final tune up for the regular season. For more information regarding Razorback men’s basketball or University of Arkansas athletics, please visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com.