#12/13 Arkansas Rallies to Beat #15/12 Gonzaga in Exhibition

October 24, 2026

FAYETTEVILLE – With Arkansas up two with just over a minute to play and the shot clock inside five seconds, freshman Davion Thompson drilled a step-back 3-pointer from the top of the key to put the Razorbacks up five (73-68). Then, with four seconds left, Billy Richmond III went 1-of-2 at the free throw line to secure a 76-72 Arkansas win over Gonzaga Saturday afternoon at Bud Walton Arena.

The #12/13 Razorbacks used a 9-0 run to end the first half and a 9-0 to start the second half to take a lead they would not relinquish. Arkansas had a 15-3 run over the first 6:39 of the second half. With the two Razorback runs combined, Arkansas outscored #15/12 Gonzaga 24-3 over a nearly nine-minute span, going from 10 points down in the first half (36-26) to leading by 11 (50-39) with 14:21 left in the second half.

Gonzaga did not go away, trimming its deficit to three (52-49) with 10:39 left. However, JJ Andrews and Richmond made 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions to give Arkansas a cushion. Arkansas opened its lead up to 11 (66-55) with 6:46 left before the Bulldogs went on an 11-2 run to make it a two-point game (68-66) with 2:59 remaining.

Arkansas answered with a Miikka Muurinen layup only to see Gonzaga’s Braden Huff cut the deficit back to two. Neither team scored over the next 1:16 until Thompson’s heroics.

Richmond led Arkansas with 17 points, adding seven rebounds and five assists. Thompson scored 12 points, while Andrews and Muurinen each scored 10 points. Cooper Bowser and Andrews just missed double-doubles. Bowser had 10 rebounds and 9 points. Andrews had 10 points and nine rebounds.

Huff led Gonzaga with 19 points and 11 rebounds.

Arkansas will play its second exhibition on Wednesday (Oct. 28) when the Memphis Tigers come to Bud Walton Arena. Tipoff is set for 7 pm and the game will be broadcast on SEC Network+.

FIRST HALF: ARK: 35 – ZAGS: 36

Arkansas scored first, but the Zags took the lead (11-9) at 13:40 and never surrendered the lead for the rest of the half.
Arkansas ended the half on a 9-0 run, including five points from Abdou Toure.
Arkansas only shot 36.4% from the field but was 50% (5-of-10) from 3-point range.
Gonzaga was just 2-of-14 from 3-point range.
Gonzaga out-rebounded Arkansas, 25-20.
Arkansas had seven assists on 12 made baskets, but committed 10 turnovers
Toure led Arkansas with eight points, while Jeremiah Wilkinson and Miikka Muurinen added seven.
Gonzaga was led by Izan Almansa with eight points.

SECOND HALF: ARK: 41 – ZAGS: 36

Arkansas started the second half by forcing a turnover and Davion Thomson quickly converted it into a layup to put Arkansas up one.
Arkansas only committed two turnovers – with eight assists – in the second half.
Richmond scored 12 of his 17 points in the second half.
Andrews had eight points and seven rebounds in the period.
Huff scored 15 points in the second half to lead Gonzaga.

NOTES:

Arkansas’ starting lineup was Jordan Smith Jr., Jeremiah Wilkinson, Billy Richmond III, Miikka Muurinen and Cooper Bowser.
Arkansas won the opening tip.
Arkansas scored first on a short jumper by Miikka Muurinen.
• Arkansas subbed five players at the first media timeout – Davion Thompson, Abdou Toure, JJ Andrews, Maper Maker and Caleb Ourigou.
Arkansas improved to 77-11 all-time in exhibition games, including a 68-9 mark at home in exhibitions with a home exhibition winning streak of 41 games.

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