FAYETTEVILLE — Karter Knox made up for lost time after a toe sprain kept him out of the University of Arkansas men’s basketball team’s season opener Nov. 3.

The sophomore scored 11 of No. 21 Arkansas’ first 20 points and ended with 19 points during a 93-56 win against the University of Central Arkansas on Tuesday night at Walton Arena. A three-point miss with 35 seconds left denied Knox a career-high 22 points. He shot 5 for 8 from the field and 4 for 6 on three-point attempts.

“I’ve been in the gym with the coaching staff,” Knox said. “Shooting every day, every night after practice and the work is paying off.”

Freshman Darius Acuff Jr. led the Razorbacks with 21 points, Knox’s career-high 10 rebounds earned him a first career collegiate double-double and freshman Meleek Thomas had a game-high six assists. Arkansas shot 13 for 34 (38.2%) from three and 31 for 63 (49.2%) from the field.

Starting 6-10 forward Trevon Brazile did not play with back spasms, creating a need for the Razorbacks to crash the glass.

“It felt great getting that double-double, man,” Knox said. “Coaches told me before the game, ‘Just be a beast on the boards.’ That’s what I delivered. So I just went in there, went after every rebound. My mindset was, that ball is going to be mine.”

Knox’s 14 points at halftime, when he hit 4 hit 4 on three-pointers with seven rebounds, already neared a double-double. The sophomore got there in his first start of this season with a 10th rebound with 14:58 left in the game. Knox grabbed a third offensive board, completed a three-point play and talked at a courtside camera.

“That’s who he should be,” Arkansas Coach John Calipari said. “Yes, he made shots, but he rebounded the ball for us. … I still think he’s pressing too much. Just don’t worry about it. Just play basketball. It’s not eighth grade, so you’re not being judged by points. You’re being judged by ‘Can you play basketball? Do you have a feel for this? Are you tough?’ Will you go rebound?’ “

Knox missed his lone shot attempt across 18 minutes off the bench in Saturday’s 69-66 loss at No. 17 Michigan State.

“I wasn’t going to play how I played at Michigan State,” Knox said. “My goal was really trying to get 20 and 20. I was trying to get after every board. The Michigan State loss, like, that’s a game that we should have won. If I played like I did today, we would have won that game.”

Calipari said he would’ve started Knox over a healthy Brazile to jumpstart the sophomore’s season. Brazile’s health for Friday’s home game at 7 p.m. against Samford at Walton Arena remains unclear.

“Nothing changes,” Knox said. “I’ve run the 4 at times. So it’s always good to be versatile.”

Arkansas opened with a much more comfortable 22-7 lead Tuesday than in East Lansing, Mich., but Central Arkansas closed the gap to 43-34 at halftime thanks to a four-point play by guard Ty Robinson with 42 seconds left before the break.

The Bears lingered despite shooting 4 for 23 from three-point range at the time of Robinson’s basket and 12 for 38 from the field. Central Arkansas finished 4 for 41 (9.8%) on three-point attempts and 19 for 67 (28.4%) total. Truman Byrne grabbed a team-high six rebounds.

Guard Camren Hunter led the Bears with 16 points on 7-of-18 shooting. Robinson added 15 points on his heels, though the UCA starting backcourt of Hunter, Robinson and Rashad Bolden combined to shoot 2 for 21 on three-pointers.

“We’re getting better at saying, ‘We’re guarding threes,’ ” Calipari said. “Now we wanted to hold them to 20 threes attempted. They got 40. We wanted to hold them to under six or seven in 20 attempts. They made six, five, whatever, in 40. … I’m not trying to get us to play perfect, but the biggest thing is just play the game and make easy plays right now.”

Arkansas (2-1) didn’t start to pull away until the third of three consecutive three-pointers by Acuff with 15:57 left. The barrage cushioned a 56-39 lead for the Razorbacks, which extended it to as many as 38 points with 1:04 remaining.

The Bears (1-2) were held to 22 second-half points.

“I thought we played hard,” UCA Coach John Shulman said. “I thought we were very solid defensively. I thought we did as good as of job we can do at this moment on the glass, especially early.

“I think the special ones in athletics fight human nature. In human nature when you go 4 for 41 from the three-point line, you just get frustrated and you get down. ‘Oh, gosh. Woe is me.’ Well, I’m not a woe-is-me type guy. When you are 4 for 41, you need to play harder than you’ve every played before. But human nature takes over and you discouraged.”

Matt Byrne is the Bob Holt Razorback Reporter, named in honor of the longtime reporter who covered University of Arkansas sports. This position is funded by the ADG Community Journalism Project.

Mason Watkins, owner of Roy’s Pawn Shop, located at 1109 East St, Texarkana, AR, donated a Henry Steel Lever Action in 360 Buckhammer to the ASP’s Christmas party as a door prize for Troopers and Investigators. 

Watkins said, “I just love being pro-law enforcement and being in a position where I can make a difference!”

The Henry Steel Lever Action in 360 Buckhammer is a newer straight-wall caliber approved for hunting in Arkansas since the new laws changed.  In 2024, Arkansas adopted regulatory changes that authorized hunters to utilize non-semi-automatic rifles in straight-walled chamberings during the Natural State’s muzzleloader deer hunting season, according to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. 

Troup G covers the Southwest 8 counties of the State: Miller, Howard, Sevier, Little River, Hempstead, Nevada, Lafayette, and Columbia counties. 

Anyone else who wants to donate to Troopers in this area should contact Troop G at 2501 North Hazel Hope, AR 71801 – (870) 777-4641. General Email Inquiries: info@asp.arkansas.gov 

Any other gifts donated, other than a gun, will go to troopers, investigators, retirees, and their families. Guns only for current troopers and investigators.

FAYETTEVILLE – Arkansas women’s basketball (2-0) will look to win its third straight game of the 2025-26 season on Monday night when it hosts Central Arkansas (1-1) at Bud Walton Arena.

Tipoff is set for 8:00 p.m. and the game will be televised live on SEC Network with Sam Gore (play-by-play) and Tamika Catchings (analyst) on the call.

Monday’s game will honor our veterans as the Salute to Service game, prior to Veterans Day on Tuesday.

INSIDE THE SERIES

Arkansas and UCA will meet for the seventh time overall and the fifth time in Fayetteville on Monday evening. The teams played each other for the first time in 1978 but didn’t meet again until 2020. This year’s meeting will mark the sixth straight, dating back to 2020. The Hogs have never lost to the Sugar Bears and last met in 2024, an 87-70 victory for Arkansas. Arkansas owns a 6-0 advantage in the all-time series.

LAST TIME OUT

Arkansas improved to 2-0 after a 101-49 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Friday, Nov. 7. 13,032 fans and elementary students saw the win, the second-largest crowd in program history. The Hogs never trailed and led by as many as 52 points. Junior Jenna Lawrence led all scorers with a career-high 26 points and 5 three pointers. Freshman Bonnie Deas picked up her first collegiate double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. She also led the team with six assists. The Razorbacks’ 15 three pointers were the most in a game since the 2021-22 season, when they had 15 at Alabama on Jan. 20, 2022

QUICK HITS

Arkansas enters its third game of the Kelsi Musick era. Central Arkansas opened the season with a 78-71 defeat at Missouri and won its first game on Friday, against Lyon College, 115-43. The Sugar Bears were picked to finish second in the ASUN preseason poll. Freshman Bonnie Deas leads the Hogs with 18.5 points per game, which is tied for seventh nationally among freshmen through two games. Next up: The Razorbacks will host Southeastern Louisiana on Thursday before traveling to Texas Tech on Sunday for their first road game of the season.

ON THE SUGAR BEARS

The Sugar Bears (1-1) opened their home schedule on Friday, defeating Lyon College 115-43 at the Farris Center. The home team won the day with defensive pressure, forcing 36 turnovers and racking up 27 steals, the third-most in a single game in program history, as well as the first 20-steal game by the Sugar Bears since 2021-22. It was a total team effort on Friday, with 12 Sugar Bears scoring the ball, led by Cheyanne Kemp’s career-high 22 points. She was one of five players to score in double-figures, and the Sugar Bears made 15 three-pointers on 42 percent shooting. Central Arkansas enters its third season under head coach Tony Kemper. Kemper has led UCA to two straight 20+ win seasons and a pair of top 3 finishes in the Atlantic Sun Conference in his first two seasons in Conway.

VS. IN-STATE FOES

All-time, Arkansas is 30-12 against in-state opponents. Against DI in-state opponents, the Hogs are 27-4 and have only lost once since 2005, against UAPB in Fayetteville in 2023. This season, Arkansas will play all four DI in-state opponents: 11/7 vs. UAPB (W, 101-49), 11/10 vs. Central Arkansas, 11/20 vs. Little Rock and 12/28 vs. Arkansas State, the Hogs’ final non-conference matchup.

A FEW FIRSTS

Kelsi Musick is Arkansas women’s basketball’s first female head coach since Susie Garnder led the Razorbacks from 2003-2007. Hometown firsts: Danika Galea is the first Maltin player in Razorback history. Aisha Hassan is the first Egyptian player in Razorback history. Ashlynn Chlarson is the first Arizonan in Razorback history.

50 SEASONS

Arkansas women’s basketball will celebrate its 50th season in 2025-26. The program was founded in 1976 and has accumulated 884 wins since its first game against North Arkansas CC on Nov. 19, 1976. The Razorbacks’ first win came on Dec. 1, 1976 against John Brown, 92-87.

THE NEWCOMERS

The Razorbacks added eight newcomers to the 2025-26 roster: 5 transfers and 3 freshmen. Maria Anais Rodriguez joined Arkansas from Oklahoma State, where she saw action in 10 games during her first season, including three Big 12 games against Colorado, UCF and Arizona. On the FIBA side, she helped Spain to a 6-1 mark and the Silver Medal at the FIBA U18 Women’s Eurobasket competition in 2024 and averaged 8.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists during the event.

Taleyah Jones followed Coach Musick to Arkansas after playing for her during her sophomore and junior seasons. Jones was the Summit League Newcomer of the Year in 2024 and a First Team All-Summit League selection in 2025. Last season, she led ORU’s offense that ranked in the top 10 nationally in scoring average (83.2) with 18.1 points per game.

Wyvette Mayberry signed with Arkansas on April 3, 2025, the first signee of the Musick era. Mayberry started her career at Tulsa before transferring to Kansas after two seasons. At Tulsa, she was named to the AAC All-Freshman team and led the Golden Hurricane in scoring her sophomore season with 14.1 points per game. At Kansas, she started in 31 games her junior season and recorded four 20+ point games. She started in all 32 games during her senior year and averaged 9.7 points and 2.4 rebounds per game. She injured her knee during her fifth year and came to Arkansas to finish her career.

Ashlynn Chlarson is the only JUCO product on this year’s team and joined Arkansas from Eastern Arizona CC in Thatcher, Arizona. In her two seasons with the Monsters, she averaged 8.4 points per game and 7.1 rebounds per game. Last season, she nearly averaged a double-double, with 10.9 points/game and 9.2 rebounds/game. She earned first team all-conference, second team all-region and NJCAA All-Tournament Team honors in 2025.

Emily Robinson also made the move from Oral Roberts after a successful start to her career. She was named the 2024 Summit League Freshman of the Year after averaging 10.3 points/game, 3.7 rebounds/game and 2.5 assists/game. She was the only freshman in the league to average double figures. She started in all 33 games her sophomore season and averaged 10.0 points/game and led ORU with 3.4 assists/game. She scored 17 points in the Summit League Tournament championship game against No. 24 South Dakota State.

Harmonie Ware, Aisha Hassan and Bonnie Deas were part of the 2025 signing class that Coach Musick managed to keep following her hiring in March.

THE FIBA FOUR

Four Razorbacks represent their countries at this summer’s FIBA events. Bonnie Deas (Australia) led her country to a silver medal in the FIBA U-19 Women’s World Cup. Deas averaged 12.3 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3 assists in 6 games at the World Cup and earned All-Star Five team honors alongside USA’s Saniyah Hall, the No. 1 prospect in the 2026 class, and UCLA’s Sienna Betts. Deas was Australia’s leading scorer in the championship game with 13 points in an 88-76 loss to the United States. Cristina Sanchez Cerqueira represented Spain in the U-20 FIBA Women’s EuroBasket and won gold. Maria Anais Rodriguez also represented Spain at the U-19 FIBA Women’s EuroBasket and earned a bronze medal. Danika Galea played for Malta in the FIBA 3×3 Europe Cup and won a silver medal in the qualifier in Prishtina, Kosovo.

NEW STAFF

Joining Musick for her first season in Fayetteville are new assistant coaches Brad Johnson and Alex Furr. Johnson made the short trip from nearby Farmington, Arkansas, where he was the head coach of the highly successful Farmington High School girls program, the home of Jenna Lawrence. Overall, Johnson finished his high school coaching career with 419 wins, four state titles, eight conference titles and seven state finals appearances. Furr joins the staff from SMU, where she served as an assistant coach and director of player development for two seasons. Furr played at Fresno State from 2010-2014 and ranks in the all-time top 10 in 3-pointers made and career free throw percentage. Other new staff include Director of On-Court Development Greg Gilman and Video Coordinator Carter Mumm. Assistants Lacey Goldwire and Nick Bradford and longtime Director of Operations Amber Shirey remain on staff.

For more information on Arkansas women’s basketball, follow @RazorbackWBB on social media.