Arkansas Gets Come-From-Behind Win at Miami in SEC/ACC Challenge

MIAMI, Fla. – Arkansas’ Boogie Fland made two free throws with 2:25 left to tie the game (71-71) and later drained a 3-pointer with 1:47 left to give the Razorbacks their first lead. After a Miami basket, Fland sealed the win with a jumper with 54 seconds left for a 76-73 win at Miami in the SEC/ACC Challenge.

Fland finished with 18 points (making 4-of-9 from 3-point) and added six assists. Johnell Davis added 12 points (making 3-of-6 from deep) while tying for the team lead in both rebounds (5) and steals (2). Fland scored 10 points and had four of his assists in the second half while Davis scored 11 second-half points (making 3-of-5 from deep) to help the Razorbacks out-score the Hurricanes, 44-33, in the second half.

Arkansas was down eight at the break and D.J. Wagner sank a 3-pointer to start the second half as the Hogs kept it a single-digit deficit the final 20 minutes. Arkansas got to within one once – after a Billy Richmond III putback with 10:57 left. Inside the final six minutes, each time Arkansas cut its deficit to a one-possession game, Miami would answer. In fact, after Arkansas made it a two-point game with 5:14 left, Nigel Pack made a long 3-pointer as the shot clock expired to give the ‘Canes a five-point lead. However, Zvonimir Ivisic drained a triple on the ensuing possession to get the Hogs back within tw0 (71-69) with 3:59 left.

Neither team scored over the next two-and-a-half minutes. With 2:25 left, Wagner missed a layup, Thiero got the rebound and eventually got the ball to Fland, who was fouled with one second left on the shot clock on a drive to the basket. He connected on both free throws to tie the game at 71-71. Miami’s Matthew Cleveland missed on an alley-oop attempt which led to a Fland defensive rebound. On the other end, Fland’s pass to Trevon Brazile was bobbled. Brazile dove on the floor to keep the ball alive. Thiero secured the loose ball and found Fland in the right corner for a 3-pointer to cap an 8-0 run and give Arkansas its first lead. Pack answered with a layup and Miami trailed by one. Fland then hit a pull-up jumper off the left elbow for a 76-73 lead, which proved to be the final score.

Arkansas had only committed four fouls late in the half so Fland fouled once with seven seconds left and Davis fouled with three ticks left and Jalen Blackmon’s 3-pointer at the buzzer missed for the Razorback win,

Wagner finished with 14 points, five assists and two steals while Ivisic had 11 points and two blocked shots.

Arkansas returns home to host UTSA on Saturday (Dec. 7). Tipoff is set for 1 pm (CT) and the game will be televised on SEC Network Plus.

FIRST HALF: Arkansas 32 – Miami 40

• Miami scored first and held the lead throughout the first half.
• The Hurricanes used an 8-0 run midway through the half to take its largest lead of 11 points (26-15) at the 7:33 mark.
• The ‘Canes shot 50% from the field and scored 11 points off Arkansas’ seen turnovers. Miami only turned the ball over four times.
• Nigel Pack led Miami with 12 points and Matthew Cleveland added 11.

SECOND HALF: Arkansas 44 – Miami 33

• After committing seven first-half turnovers, Arkansas only committed four in the second half while dishing out 10 of its 17 assists.
• Arkansas shot 54.8% from the field in the period, including 8-of-14 (57.1%) from 3-point.
• Miami was 9-of-29 from 3-point from the game, but made just 1 of its last 7 from deep.

GAME NOTES:

• For the second time this year, Arkansas’ starting lineup was Boogie Fland, D.J. Wagner, Johnell Davis, Adou Thiero and Trevon Brazile.
• Arkansas won the opening tip. The Hogs have won the tip in all eight games.
• Miami’s Lynn Kidd scored the game’s first points, a jumper in the lane at 19:12. Johnell Davis scored Arkansas’ first points with a free throw at 17:42.
• Jonas Aidoo was Arkansas’ first sub.
• Arkansas is now 1-1 all-time versus Miami. John Calipari has won two straight as head coach versus Miami, also beating the Hurricanes in last year’s SEC/ACC Challenge while at Kentucky. Overall, Coach Cal is 2-1 versus the ‘Canes.
• Arkansas is 2-0 in the SEC/ACC Challenge. The Hogs defeated Duke last season in Bud Walton Arena.
• Arkansas was down eight at halftime. That ties for the eighth-largest halftime deficit in a road win since 1945. (HogStats.com)
• Arkansas was down four with 10 minutes to play, down two with five to play and were tied with two minutes left.
• Boogie Fland in the second Razorback freshman to post at least 18 points, six assists and four rebounds in a true road game since Arkansas joined the SEC (1991-92). The other was Patrick Beverley with 19, 7 and 8 versus Texas on Dec. 20, 2006. (HogStats.com)

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