FAYETTEVILLE – The 18th-ranked Arkansas Razorbacks, behind a career-high night from Zvonimir Ivisic and 19 points from Adou Thiero, used a 12-2 run and later a 7-0 run to pull away from Troy in the second half for a 65-49 victory Wednesday night at Bud Walton Arena.
The Razorbacks trailed most of the first half and were down three (32-29) with 17:09 left. Ivisic hit the second of his six 3-pointers on the night to tie the game and Johnell Davis followed with a layup to give Arkansas a lead it would not relinquish the rest of the game. That started the 12-2 run and the Razorbacks were 5-of-5 from the field over the span.
Myles Rigsby answered with a pair of jumpers to work the Trojans’ deficit down to three (41-38) with 12:08 remaining. However, Thiero made a jumper and slammed home an alley-oop before Boogie Fland capped a 7-0 run to go up 10. Troy ended the run with a free throw before Ivisic drained another 3-pointer to give the Hogs a double-digit lead the rest of the game.
Ivisic scored a career-high 19 points, making a career-high 6-of-7 from 3-point range, while adding a career-high five blocked shots and three steals. Sixteen of Ivisic’s points (5-of-6 from deep) and four of his blocks came in the second half.
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Thiero also scored 19 points, including 12 in the second half, with seven rebounds. Fland, like Thiero, threatened a double-double as well with 12 points and seven assists.
Troy was led by Jackson Fields (13 points) and Rigsby (12 points).
Arkansas returns to action next Monday (Nov. 18) to host Pacific. Tipoff is set for 7 pm and the game will be broadcast on SEC Network Plus.
FIRST HALF: Arkansas 26 – Troy 27 • Both teams struggled from deep, going a combined 5-of-22. Troy was 3-of-11 and Arkansas was 2-of-11. • Also, the teams were a combined 6-of-8 at the line. Arkansas was 4-of-5 and Troy was 2-of-3. • Troy out-rebounded the Hogs, 24-15. • Adou Thiero led Arkansas with seven points. • Arkansas blocked five shots, including two by Zvonimir Ivisic. • Arkansas forced 11 turnovers thanks to eight steals. • Arkansas only led once in the first half, 18-16, at 6:13. There were four ties.
SECOND HALF: Arkansas 39 – Troy 22 • It was a tale of two halves. Arkansas shot 29.4% from the field in the first half and 63.6% in the second. Arkansas was 8-of-12 from 3-point range in the period. • Troy was held to 35.7% shooting in the half and was 0-of-8 from 3-point range. • Arkansas had 11 of its 14 assists in the second half. • While Arkansas was out-rebounded for the game, the Hogs held a 15-to-12 rebound advantage in the final 20 minutes.
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GAME NOTES:
Arkansas’ starting lineup was Boogie Fland, D.J. Wagner, Johnell Davis, Adou Thiero and Trevon Brazile.
Arkansas won the opening tip.
Troy’s Thomas Dowd scored the game’s first points, a 3-pointer at 19:07. Adou Thiero scored Arkansas’ first points, an old-fashion 3-point play at 18:49.
Karter Knox was Arkansas’ first sub.
Arkansas has won five straight in the series with Troy and leads the all-time series versus the Trojans, 6-1.
Trevon Brazile and Jonas Aidoo both played in the first half but sat out the second due to injury.
Ivisic is the only Hog (dating back to 1996-97) to have at least four made 3-pointers, four blocks and three steals. He is also the only 7-footer in Arkansas history to make at least five 3-pointers in a game. The previous best was Connor Vanover making four. (HogStats)
Ivisic going 6-of-7 (87.5%) from deep, he ties for the second-best 3-point shooting percentage in a game by a Hog with 7+ attempts, behind Jannero Pargo, 87.5% (7-8) – vs Florida, 1/26/2002, and tying Patrick Beverley, 85.7% (6-7) – vs Southeast Missouri St., 11/10/2006. (HogStats)
Arkansas had 16 steals, the most since getting 16 versus Bradley on Dec. 17, 2022.
Arkansas forced 24 turnovers, the most by an opponent since Bradley had 27 on Dec. 17, 2022.
Arkansas is now 21-9 all-time when ranked #18 in the AP poll. The last time it won as the #18 team was Feb. 26, 2022 vs #6 Kentucky (75-73). Coach Calipari is 23-6 all-time when his team is ranked #18 in the AP poll, including a 13-1 mark at home.
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas basketball returns to the hardwood of Bud Walton Arena tonight with an intriguing matchup against a mid-major foe.
The No. 21 Razorbacks (1-1) will host Troy on Wednesday in the third regular-season game of the John Calipari era. Arkansas is coming off a win over Lipscomb and a neutral-site loss to Baylor during its first week of the new campaign.
The Trojans are 2-0 with double-digit victories over Toledo and New Orleans. Troy went 20-12 last year and finished third in a competitive Sun Belt Conference, only to lose in the first round of its league tournament, but most of the players from last year’s squad are back for the Trojans this winter.
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The Hogs will hope to get their offense going Wednesday night. Through the first two games of the season, Arkansas is shooting just 23.1% on 3-pointers and averaging 71.5 points per contest.
Below are live updates, highlights and other notes from Arkansas basketball vs. Troy.
Watch Arkansas basketball vs. Troy on FUBO (free trial)
Arkansas basketball vs. Troy score updates
This section will be updated when the game begins.
What time does Arkansas vs. Troy play today?
Date: Wednesday, Nov. 13
Time: 7 p.m. CT
Location: Fayetteville
What channel is Arkansas vs. Troy game on today?
TV channel: N/A
Streaming: SEC+ (ESPN+)
Arkansas vs. Troy live stream options
Arkansas vs. Troy will not be on TV, but the matchup is available to stream via SEC+ on ESPN.com and the ESPN app. An ESPN+ or cable subscription is required, with FUBO offering a free trial.
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Arkansas vs. Troy prediction
Arkansas 77, Troy 62: The Hogs will move to 2-1, but don’t be surprised if this game follows a similar script to last week’s victory over Lipscomb. The Bisons hung around and made things uneasy midway through the second half. Troy has an experienced team that plays tough defense. Still, the Razorbacks will have too much firepower and come away with the victory.
Arkansas vs. Troy betting odds
Game lines and odds from BetMGM as of Wednesday morning:
Spread: Arkansas -12.5
Over/under: 153.5
Moneyline: Troy +625
Arkansas basketball schedule
Record: 1-1
(Next five games)
Troy, Nov. 13
Pacific, Nov. 18
Little Rock, Nov. 22
Maryland Eastern Shore, Nov. 25
Illinois (Kansas City), Nov. 28
Troy basketball schedule
Record: 2-0
(Next five games)
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at Arkansas, Nov. 13
at Oregon, Nov. 17
at West Georgia, Nov. 19
UTSA, Nov. 25
Merrimack, Nov. 29
Arkansas basketball news
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When the Texas Longhorns and the Arkansas Razorbacks met for the final time as non-conference opponents in 2021, Steve Sarkisian had just one game of experience under his belt after taking over as head coach. On the opposing end, the Razorbacks had just entered their third season under Sam Pittman at the helm, and were unknowingly about to see the most successful season of the last 10 years.
Now Sarkisian sits in his fourth year with the Longhorns and has already brought his team to a Big 12 Championship title and College Football Playoff appearance while currently seeking out an SEC Championship. Arkansas has followed up its 4-8 performance from last season with a 5-4 record so far, while Texas has maintained consistency from a 12-2 record into an 8-1 showing in its first year as SEC members.
Pittman pointed out the obvious in his Monday media availability, describing how the Longhorns have found more speed and physicality on its roster than what they had three years ago, especially with breakout performances by wide receiver Isaiah Bond, running back Jaydon Blue, and edge Trey Moore against Florida last weekend.
“Certainly since we played them the last time, they’re a different team. Their talent level is certainly a lot faster and bigger than what they were last time we played them,” Pittman said. “We’re certainly looking forward to the challenge that we have, which is a huge challenge against a great Texas team.”
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What especially caught Pittman’s attention about the new and improved Sarkisian-era squad is the fact that his play designs have been known to draw the attention off the ball. One of the plays that stood out to Pittman was the double fake screen when starting quarterback Quinn Ewers ended up handing the ball to Bond for a 44-yard gain. The head coach mentioned that he’ll have to prepare his guys for miscues like that if they want to avoid the Longhorns offense running up the sidelines.
“They want to get the ball on the edge and get you in space,” Pittman said. “We have to have our edge, we have to turn everything back inside, we have to. If they get outside of one of our guys, we’re in trouble. We’ve got to chase the ball and we have to play extremely hard.”
Although Arkansas has already faced some intimidating players at the quarterback position, including Jaxson Dart for Ole Miss and Nico Iamaleava for Tennessee, he praised Ewers for being one of the most impressive quarterbacks he’s seen all year.
“Ewers throwing the football, he has one of the fastest releases of guys I’ve seen,” Pittman said. “He can throw a bubble screen and it’s halfway there and you didn’t even see him throw. He’s really, really talented and has an extremely strong arm.”
Pittman hinted that he’s been fixing up his secondary ahead of Saturday to combat the agility of the Longhorns, but only time will tell who has come more prepared in Fayetteville for the revival of an overshadowed rivalry.
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JONESBORO, Ark. (AP) — Taryn Todd’s 17 points helped Arkansas State defeat Little Rock 80-63 on Tuesday night.
Todd also added six rebounds for the Red Wolves (2-1). Kobe Julien scored 16 points and added six steals. Derrian Ford shot 3 for 12, including 3 for 6 from beyond the arc to finish with 11 points.
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Mwani Wilkinson led the way for the Trojans (1-2) with 20 points. Little Rock also got nine points, six rebounds and four assists from Isaiah Lewis. Creed Williamson had eight points.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
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