#20 Arkansas Pulls Away to Defeat Pacific, 91-72
FAYETTEVILLE – Four Razorbacks scored in double figures to lead #20 Arkansas to a 91-72 victory over Pacific Monday night at Bud Walton Arena.
Adou Thiero led the way with 23 points, one shy of his career high, by going 8-of-10 from the field with six dunks and going 6-of-7 at the line. He additionally tied Boogie Fland for the team lead with four steals and tied Johnell Davis for the team lead with six rebounds.
Boogie Fland scored 20 points and is the only Razorback to score in double figures in all four games this season. Zvonimir Ivisic contributed 15 points and three blocked shots while D.J. Wagner had 14 points and a team-high five assists.
Arkansas never trailed, but Pacific would not go away, trailing two with 12:57 left. The Tigers stayed close until Thiero hit two free throws with 8:34 remaining to put Arkansas up 11 and the Hogs led by double digits the rest of the game.
In addition to Arkansas methodically pulling away on offense, the Razorback defense played a role in the Tigers missing 13 straight shots and going just 2-of-16 from the field to end the game.
Pacific’s Elijah Fisher led all scorers with 23 points, going 8-of-10 from the field (3-of-4 from 3-point) and 4-of-4 from the line.
Arkansas continues its four-game homestand by hosting Little Rock on Friday (Nov. 22) in Bud Walton Arena. Tipoff is set for 8 pm and the game will be televised on SEC Network.
FIRST HALF: Arkansas 44 – Pacific 37
• Arkansas scored first and held the lead the rest of the half.
• The Hogs led by as many as 16 (27-11). The Tigers answered with an 11-0 run to make the score 27-22. However, that is as close as Pacific would get in the half.
• Arkansas shot a blistering 62.1% from the field and 50% (6-of-12) from 3-point.
• Pacific stayed close by going 8-of-18 from deep.
• Both teams suffered double-digit turnovers with Arkansas having 10 and Pacific 11.
• Adou Thiero led Arkansas with 11 points and four steals and Zvonimir Ivisic added 10. Four of Thiero’s five field goals were dunks.
• Elijah Fisher led Pacific with 12 points, going 5-of-5 from the field including 2-of-2 from 3-point.
SECOND HALF: Arkansas 47 – Pacific 35
• Pacific out-scored Arkansas 12-11 early in the second half.
• Arkansas held Pacific to 32.2% from the field and 23.5% from deep in the period.
• Boogie Fland led Arkansas with 13 second-half points.
GAME NOTES:
• Arkansas’ starting lineup was Boogie Fland, D.J. Wagner, Johnell Davis, Adou Thiero and Zvonimir Ivisic.
• Arkansas won the opening tip. The Hogs have won the tip in all four games.
• Boogie Fland scored the game’s first points, a steal and a layup at 19:02.
• Billy Richmond III and Karter Knox were Arkansas’ first sub.
• This was the first meeting between Arkansas and Pacific.
• Since missing its first nine 3-pointers in the Baylor loss, Arkansas is 24-of-54 (44.4%) from 3-point range since.
• Arkansas had 10 steals and has had double-digit thefts in three of four games. Also, Arkansas has forced at least 17 turnovers in three of four games.
For more information on Arkansas Men’s Basketball, follow @RazorbackMBB on Twitter.
