No. 16 Arkansas (1-0) held off Lipscomb (1-1), 76-60, in their season opener, marking the beginning of the John Calipari era at Arkansas with a win.
“That was a very, very hard game to play out of the gate,” Calipari said. “Because you’ve got to be disciplined, and you better be in shape, because they’re going to run you for 25 seconds. And then we play fast and pressure.
“We did some god stuff, and it was a good first win against a team that’s going to win a lot of games.”
Game Summary
Freshman guard Boogie Fland opened the scoring for the Razorbacks with a mid-range jumper off an assist from forward Adou Thiero. However, Arkansas started sluggish, allowing Lipscomb to play their style and keep the game close late into the first half. The Razorbacks turned defense into offense, sparking points in transition. Freshman Karter Knox energized the team with a step-back three-pointer and an athletic dunk in the final minute, giving Arkansas a 39-28 lead at halftime.
Early in the second half, Arkansas appeared ready to pull away, extending the lead to 51-36 with 15 minutes left. But sloppy play allowed the Bisons to cut the lead to four points with seven minutes remaining. That’s when 7-foot-2 Zvonimir Ivišić scored six straight points to restore a 10-point advantage for the Razorbacks, who regained control and finished with a 76-60 victory.
Arkansas shot 54% from the field, 21% from three-point range, and 57% from the free-throw line. In contrast, Lipscomb shot 37% from the field, 33% from beyond the arc, and 77% from the free-throw line. The Razorbacks outrebounded the Bisons 35-29, had two more assists, and recorded more steals and blocks. Arkansas’ disruptive defense forced 19 turnovers, resulting in 25 points. The Razorbacks also dominated in the paint, outscoring Lipscomb 54-22.
Who Stood Out
Johnell Davis shook off any rust from an offseason injury, finishing with 15 points on 7-of-12 shooting and leading the team with six rebounds. He also contributed an assist, a steal, and a block in an impressive performance.
Boogie Fland led Arkansas with 17 points, shooting 7-of-18 from the field, though he struggled from three-point range, going 1-of-8. He also showed his playmaking ability, dishing out a team-high three assists while adding three rebounds and a steal.
Zvonimir Ivišić was the third Razorback to score in double digits, contributing 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting. He made a significant impact defensively, leading the team with three blocks and adding a steal.
Looking Ahead for Arkansas
Arkansas now prepares to face No. 8 Baylor in their first ranked matchup of the season. The Bears began their season with a 101-63 blowout loss at Gonzaga. The Razorbacks will travel to Dallas to take on Baylor at American Airlines Center on Nov. 9 at 6:30 p.m. CST on ESPNU.
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