#21 Arkansas Pulls Away in 2nd Half to Beat UCA, 93-56

FAYETTEVILLE – Razorback sophomore Karter Knox recorded his first career double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds, while freshmen Darius Acuff Jr. and Meleek Thomas combined for 38 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists to lead #21 Arkansas to a 93-56 victory over Central Arkansas Tuesday night at Bud Walton Arena.

With the win, Razorback head coach John Calipari earns career victory 879, which ties him with Dean Smith for the sixth-most NCAA Division I wins.

Knox was a key reason Arkansas led 43-34 at halftime with his 14 points and seven boards at the break. In the second half, the Razorbacks pulled away, using a 17-1 run, including a 13-0 spurt, midway through the half to secure the win.

Acuff scored 17 of his 21 points in the second half, going 7-of-9 from the field and 3-of-5 from 3-point range. He finished with six rebounds and four assists. Specifically, with Arkansas up 10 (47-37), Acuff made three-straight 3-pointers to push the lead to 56-39.

Thomas scored 17 points with six rebounds and a team-high six assists. Including the two exhibitions and the three regular-season games, Thomas leads the team in scoring, rebounds and assists.

Nick Pringle just missed a double-double with nine points and eight rebounds and Malique Ewin contributed 10 points.

Arkansas was able to out-score the Bears, 50-22, in the second half by holding UCA to 0-of-18 shooting from 3-point range. Over the last two games, Arkansas opponents are a combined 5-of-55 (9%) from beyond the arc.

Camren Hunter and Ty Robinson led UCA with 16 and 15 points, respectively.

Arkansas continues its four-game homestand on Friday (Nov. 14) versus Samford, followed by Winthrop (Nov. 18) and Jackson State (Nov. 21). All three games are set to begin at 7 pm.

FIRST HALF: ARK: 43 – UCA: 34

• Arkansas scored first on a Karter Knox 3-pointer and held the lead the rest of the half.
• Arkansas had 12 assists on 15 made baskets, including five from Meleek Thomas, and was 7-of-15 from 3-point range.
• Knox led all scorers with 14 points, going 4-of-4 from 3-point range, and he led all players with seven rebounds.

SECOND HALF: ARK: 50 – UCA: 22

• During the 17-1 run, Acuff scored 6 and Pringle scored 6 straight.
• Arkansas shot 50% from the field in the period, holding UCA to 25% (7-of-28). UCA was 0-for-18 from 3-point range in the half.

NOTES:

• Arkansas’ starting lineup was Darius Acuff Jr., D.J. Wagner, Meleek Thomas, Karter Knox and Nick Pringle.
• It marked the first time Arkansas started four McDonald’s All-Americans in a game.
• UCA won the opening tip.
• Arkansas scored first on a Karter Knox 3-pointer at 19:21.
  • Malique Ewin and Billy Richmond III were Arkansas’s first subs.
• Arkansas is 10-0 all-time versus Central Arkansas. The teams met six times from 1924 to 1947, then did not meet again until 2020. This is the fourth meeting between the programs in the last five seasons.
• Coach Cal is just 2-0 all-time versus UCA, put improves to 4-0 all-time versus Bears’ head coach John Shulman. At Memphis, Cal beat Shulman’s UTC team. At Kentucky, Cal beat Shulman’s UTC team. Coach Cal is 2-0 versus Shulman’s UCA teams.
• Karter Knox is the seventh Razorback to make at least 4 3-pointers and grab at least 10 rebounds in a game, joining Trevon Brazile, Moses Moody, Jaylen Barford, Parrick Beverley, Billy Pharis and Todd Day.

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