Arkansas Takes Down UTSA in Bud Walton

Arkansas returned home and took care of business in a 75-60 win over UTSA in Bud Walton Arena. The Hogs built off their thrilling comeback win against Miami to take down the Roadrunners thanks to a much better second-half performance.

“The major battle with this team right now is themselves,” head coach John Calipari said. “We’re looking better, running stuff, but we’re not there. I’ve got a lot of work to do, they’ve got a lot to do, they just have to keep going.”

Game Summary

Once again, the Hogs’ first half was very sluggish and did not look cohesive. The Hogs shot the ball poorly, shooting 38.5% from the field, 33.3% from behind the 3-point line, and 50% from the foul line. Their sloppy play led to Arkansas turning the ball over eight times in the first half. UTSA, on the other hand, shot 41.9% from the field, 33.3% from behind the 3-point line, and 100% from the foul line. The Roadrunners would go into halftime with a 32-27 lead.

In the second half, the Hogs battled back and found themselves on offense. They started the half with a 7-0 run to get ahead 35-32 thanks to a 3-pointer by guard Johnell Davis with 16:36 left in the half. Veteran guard for UTSA Primo Spears did all he could to keep the Roadrunners in the game, but his 19 points were not enough as the Hogs shot tremendously better to close the game. The Razorbacks increased their shooting splits to 52.8% from the field, 33.3% from behind the 3-point line, and 73.7% from the free-throw line. The Hogs also dominated the paint, outrebounding the Roadrunners 38-22 and outscoring them in the paint 40-22. Arkansas would go on to win 75-60.

Who Stood Out for Arkansas

Forward Adou Thiero, like a broken record, did it all once again for the Hogs. He was team-leader in points and rebounds. Thiero ended the game with 26 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, and a block. He scored efficiently, going 8-of-10 from the field, and his physical play led to him getting to the foul line, knocking down 10 of 13.

Guard Johnell Davis has begun to emerge for the Hogs as he was the only other Razorback in double-digit scoring. He ended the game with 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the field and 3-of-5 from 3-point range. He also added three assists, a rebound, and a block in a team-high 34 minutes of play.

Big man Jonas Aidoo missed some time in the offseason with an injury and has played limited minutes this season. In this game, he logged 27 minutes and showed why he was such a sought-after transfer, recording eight points, seven rebounds, two blocks, two assists, and a steal. With Arkansas dealing with injuries to all of the members of their front court, it is a promising sign to see Aidoo be able to log as many minutes as he did today.

Looking Ahead

The Hogs will head to New York City for their next matchup against the Michigan Wolverines. Arkansas transfer guard Johnell Davis will take on his former coach at FAU, Dusty May, as he is in his first year with the Wolverines. The game will tip off at 8 p.m. CST in Madison Square Garden in the Jimmy V Classic on Dec. 10.