Bill's Blog: Bonus Basketball Blog

8:58 p.m. — So as the Razorbacks leave the court through the tunnel at my right, good night from Bud Walton Arena. Tomorrow afternoon, the Razorback women’s basketball team faces Missouri at 2 p.m. That game will have live stream and live video stream tomorrow afternoon through RazorVision. Good night from Fayetteville.

8:54 p.m. — The Jim Thorpe Classic all-tournament team — Austin Peay’s Drake Reed, SFA’s Matt Kingsley and Josh Alexander, and from Arkansas Stefan Welsh and Courtney Fortson. The MVP is Michael Washington.

8:54 p.m. — Remember, next game for the Razorback men’s basketball team is Dec. 27 with Northwestern State. That’s an ESPN2 game, so no live streaming. We may have the live blog.

8:53 p.m. — SFA adds a late bucket, and the Razorbacks dribble out the final seconds — your final score, 67-51.

8:52 p.m. — Jason Henry gets the fall-away three-pointer right in front of the bench, 67-49.

8:51 p.m. — Stephen Cox checks in with 50 seconds left for Stefan Welsh.

8:51 p.m. — Marcus Monk gets his first rebound.

8:47 p.m. — SFA takes a time out. The Lumberjacks have only three field goals since the 8:40 mark — and the clock right now is on 2:17 as Brandon Moore gets hammered in the lane. Moore eyes the first, and its good. Monk checks in for Michael Sanchez, and the crowd gives a double — cheering for Monk on and rewarding Sanchez heading off. Moore misses the second, 64-44, first 20-point lead of the night for Arkansas

8:42 p.m. — SFA responds with a three-pointer — the one thing keeping the Lumberjacks anywhere near close — only to have Arkansas set up for another three-point play as Sanchez one-hands the rebound into the bucket and draws the foul. Takes us to the final media timeout. 61-44 Arkansas with Sanchez at the line when we return.

8:41 p.m. — Jason Henry converts the three-point play, Arkansas 59-41.

8:40 p.m. — Turnovers are even, shooting percentages are almost even — what’s the key stat tonight? Rebounds. Arkansas has a +12 advantage right now. The esoteric difference-maker — Assists. Arkansas as 12 on its 22 made field goals, while SFA has only six assists for 17 made. Credit Fortson for his floor direction.

8:37 p.m. — To the almost 300 folks with us on-line viewing the stream — thank you for being there. A reminder, we will soon be into games that A) belong to other rights holders or B) conference play. No SEC men’s games can be streamed live, but we will have them up for replay as soon as our contracts allow. When ESPN comes to town for NSU, Oklahoma and Texas — those game streams belong to their networks.

8:34 p.m. — Jarrod McDaniel tries a 15-footer from the top of the key. He thinks he’s far enough away from Michael Washington. Oops. The block rebounds back to McDaniel, who foolishly now decides to drive on Washington. Washington plays defense with his feet, and forces McDaniel into another miscue, this time a blind pass out of bounds. We go to the media timeout with Arkansas still at 53-39.

8:32 p.m. — SFA’s Josh Alexander picks a sloppy pass and takes it the length, first Lumberjack highlight in a while, 53-39.

8:31 p.m. — Stefan Welsh from the right corner, just in front of the band — 53-37 Arkansas.

8:28 p.m. — At the second media timeout of the half, 50-34 Arkansas and Washington is already in the books with a double, 14 points and 10 rebounds.

8:27 p.m. — Fortson is managing the floor brilliantly. Five assists to only two turnovers so far tonight, and he is commanding the hardwood.

8:24 p.m. — Clarke’ three rims out, but Washington is there to put it back in, 50-34 Arkansas. SFA looks like it is starting to run out of gas. The shots are coming up short.

8:23 p.m. — Fortson lofts a three-quarter court pass right into the arms of Washington, play gets stopped by SFA foul.

8:15 p.m. — Michael Sanchez jams it home and brings the crowd to its feet to cap a 7-2; Courtney Fortson gets a lay-in during the run. — Razorbacks 43-32 into the timeout.

8:12 p.m. — Second half is underway; SFA pulls back to within six, 36-30.

7:50 p.m. — Now that’s the way to head to halftime. Stephan Welch drains a trey with about four seconds left, then SFA races up the floor in an attempt to get a bucket — they’ve been scoreless the final four minutes of the half — only to have the shot rejected hard. Halftime, 35-24.

7:49 p.m. — Arkansas has put the clamps back on SFA

7:48 p.m. — A standing ovation for the substitute — Marcus Monk check into the game.

7:46 p.m. — Oh no he didn’t — Fortson lays one in falling down in the lane. Then he steals from Eddie Williams, who’s forced to foul to prevent the breakaway layup.

7:44 p.m. — Washington hurts his left arm — hard to tell if he hit his funny bone or jammed a finger — and Coach Pel calls time to get him out. Trainer Dave England is checking him, but it looks like a mild stinger that he’s literally shaking off. Michael now ambles back to the scorer’s table to check in at the next chance.

7:42 p.m. — If there was any doubt about where Arkansas’ strength against SFA is, Washington brings down a two-handed monster dunk; 28-24 Arkansas.

7:39 p.m. — Washington skies and picks the rebound in mid-air, then slams it down. Not only 26-24 Arkansas, but it brings the crowd to its feet for the first time tonight. Media timeout.

7:37 p.m. — Fortson slashes through the SFA defense to a jump stop and pitches a lateral to an on-rushing Jason Henry — just about a half-second out of stride. Still, an impressive attempt.

7:36 p.m. — Out of the timeout, Jason Henry snaps the Arkansas scoreless spell, 24-22. For those following on the livestats, that computer hiccupped, and the score will catch up shortly.

7:33 p.m. — Back to back turnovers leading to SFA points, including a solo breakaway dunk for Alexander, brings the Lumberjacks to with two points, 22-20, at the third media timeout.

7:28 p.m. — Pair of treys and a two-pointer bring SFA back within three, 19-16. Arkansas in a scoring slump.

7:25 p.m. — SFA foul takes us to second media timeout, with Arkansas leading 17-9. SFA trying to get into a bit of a motion offense, setting picks to try and get their three-point shooters open.

7:23 p.m. — After pulling back to within six, Razorbacks go on a 5-0 run to push back to 17-6.

7:19 p.m. — SFA is the first of two Southland Conference teams set to visit Bud Walton Arena. Northwestern State will be here just after Christmas for a game on ESPN2.

7:17 p.m. — First media time out; Razorbacks lead 10-4. Fortson leads both Arkansas and SFA with six points. So far, Arkansas has played flawless basketball, zero turnovers to four for SFA. Lumberjacks are not getting the chance to set the tempo as they did last night with APSU.

7:16 p.m. — After an 8-0 start by Arkansas, SFA finally gets its first points. Kudos for the Razorbacks holding the Lumberjacks scoreless for 3:30 to open the game.

7:15 p.m. — Another SFA turnover.

7:14 p.m. — OOOOOH says the crowd as Brandon Moore hovers down the baseline to reject Nick Shaw’s layup.

7:13 p.m. — Fortson drives the lane, shifts laterally to his right, then jukes inside for a layup and the first points of the game. SFA flat footed to Fortson’s drive.

7:12 p.m. — Coach Pel makes his first subs; for those in-state, the game is on the Razorback Sports Network stations.

7:08 p.m. — Tipoff to Razorbacks, nice drive by Fortson but he can’t connect; SFA turnover gives the ball back to Arkansas.

7:07 p.m. — For the Razorbacks — Washington, Fortson, Britt, Clarke and Sanchez.

7:06 p.m. — Horn sounds for starting lineups. For SFA Josh Alexander, Girod Adams, Eddie Williams, Nick Shaw and Matt Kingsley.

7:03 p.m. — Tonight’s game pits Arkansas against Stephen F. Austin, who tore up Austin Peay last night in the in-between day game of the Jim Thorpe. SFA showed they could play a very aggressive up-tempo game last night with a pretty solid APSU team that gave Arkansas trouble on Wednesday.

7:01 p.m. — John Pelphrey says it from the video board: "I’ve got news for you. This is Razorback Basketball, and it’s GAMETIME."

7:00 p.m. — So, where has the blog been? To be honest, we’ve had a lot of home basketball and lots of those games were available live stream — just like tonight’s game. For the first time, we are providing the maximum number of non-conference men’s game streams we are allowed.

6:59 p.m. — And, of course, you can buy those single game ducats here at ArkansasRazorbacks.com.

6:58 p.m. — National anthem is done, and a good crowd is building in Bud Walton Arena. Remember, single game tickets for the Razorbacks are on sale. Great seats are available for big non-conference games coming up like Texas and Oklahoma, plus the SEC schedule.

6:56 p.m. — Final game tonight of the Jim Thorpe Classic. Lot of people ask what the event is — this is what the NCAA calls an "exempt tournament" where each team — men or women — can declare a tournament that only counts for one game in the schedule. Think the old "Hawai’i" exempted tournament, but anywhere.

6:55 p.m. — Good evening and welcome to Bud Walton Arena for tonight’s game with Stephen F. Austin.