Bill's Blog: It's Basket-Blog Time

Rotnei Clarke has a huge night setting Arkansas’ single game record for both 3’s in a game with 13 and points with 51, as well as setting the SEC record for threes in a game as well. Make sure to click over to RazorVision to catch Rotnei’s postgame statements!

9:03 p.m. — HOGS WIN 130-68.

9:00 p.m. — Cody Lay drops off a lay-up to pull the Hogs total on the night to 130.

8:58 p.m. — With 1:56 remaining in the game, Chris Roberts and Cody Lay check into the game for Coach Pelphrey’s squad, Hogs up 128-63.

8:55 p.m. — Marshawn Powell takes a seat after the 4th timeout of the half, leaving his first game as a Razorback with a double-double. Hogs lead it 125-58 with 3:15 to play.

8:51 p.m. — Jemal Farmer picks up a pair of free-throws and now has a very impressive 28 points as well as already having 12 rebounds thus giving him a double-double in his first game as a Razorback.

8:49 p.m. — Bud Walton explodes as Rotnei drains his 13th three of the game, capturing the SEC record for three-pointers in a single game.

8:45 p.m. — Marshawn Powell throws down yet another huge dunk, drawing the foul and nailing the and-1 to go, Hogs’ lead now stands at 115-47.

8:43 p.m. — As we come to the 3rd media timeout of the half, Bud Walton erupts into cheers of "ROTNEI, ROTNEI, ROTNEI!!" as his new school records for both points and 3’s in a game were announced.

8:39 p.m. — Clarke came close to getting his 50th point, however Julysses Nobles was there for the put-back, pushing the Hogs lead to 112-45.

8:37 p.m. — Rotnei Clarke just broke the school record for points in a game with 48; previous was Martin Terry with 47.

8:32 p.m. — Rotnei just hit his 12th 3 of the game to put the Hogs up 102-41 and tie the school record for 3’s in a game.

8:30 p.m. — 2nd media timeout of the half, Hogs up 99-39 with 11:50 remaining.

8:29 p.m. — Jemal Farmer throws down a nasty dunk and then Rotnei was sent to the line again, regaining his personal lead against the Braves 41-39.

8:28 p.m. — With 13 mins to go in the game, Alcorn State took its first points lead over Rotnei, however sent him to the line the Hogs’ next trip down the floor.

8:26 p.m. — Jamar Ragland fouls out for the Braves with 14 left to go in the game, sending Clarke to the line to push his point total to 36.

8:24 p.m. — Farmer hits a 3 from the right wing to bring the score to 85-32.

8:19 p.m. — Jemal Farmer drives the lane for a nice lay-up.

8:17 p.m. — Rotnei Clarke is now a mere 2 three-pointers away from tying the school record for 3’s in a single game.

8:15 p.m. — Marshawn opens up the 2nd half with a monster dunk over a host of Braves, Hogs up 73-26.

8:13 p.m. — 1 minute until 2nd half tips.

8:09 p.m. — The Hogs take the court for some 2nd half warm-ups, looking ready to add onto their 71-26 halftime lead.

8:06 p.m. — Arkansas pom squad and Hogwild Band steal the show at the half and Boss Hog works on his 3 point shot.

HANDOFF TO BRYAN ROWLAND — Welcome to the blog.

7:58 p.m. — Clarke goes 10-of-12 from the field, 9-of-11 behind the arc. Five assists with his 31 points. He beats Alcorn, 31-26.

7:57 p.m. — Hogs looking for 70 in the half, but won’t get it. Oh, but yes with a late steal and breakaway, Clark shoots from inside the arc and the 71-26 halftime.

7:54 p.m — Steal and a Powell layup, its’ 65-22. Alcorn messes things up with a jumper, but Clarke’s ninth trey makes it 68-24 (And Clarke 29, Alcorn 24).

7:53 p.m. — Farmer rebounds Powell’s FT miss, and he goes to the line. Gets both to become the third Hog in double digits with 10. 63-22.

7:52 p.m. — Powell gets hoop and harm — was kidding a minute ago about tripling, but 66 is now in reach.

7:52 p.m. — Two more free throws for Washington and he’s the second hog in double digits.

7:51 p.m. — Washington’s free throws have Arkansas up 57-22, can the Hogs triple ASU by halftime?

7:48 p.m. — Jemal Farmer quietly starting toward a triple — he has 8 points, 5 rebounds and three assists to this time out.

7:47 p.m. — Final media time out of the half, Arkansas still up 53-21. Hogs shooting 54.3%. Alcorn at 30% but the turnovers are mounting up, 11-4.

7:46 p.m. — Alcorn has the chance to close the gap now as Clarke goes to the bench and his lead is five. For the Hogs, its now 30+ as Washington drains the trey, 53-21, with 3:48 left.

7:42 p.m. — Alcorn State has closed on Rotnei with a pair of free throw to within six, 26-20. It’s the only drama we have right now as the Razorbacks are extending their overall lead, now 49-20 with a free throw to come, at 5:21.

7:37 p.m. — Maybe the new tee-shirts should say: Got Rotnei? Clarke is 8-of-9 for 26 points with three assists. Arkansas is shooting 58.6% from the field while Alcorn is down to 33%. The turnovers are 10-3 in favor of Arkansas.

7:36 p.m. — The world is back in order, Clarke hits the three. Rotnei 26, Alcorn State 19 as we go to the third media time out. 45-19 overall.

7:35 p.m. — Show shot fake by Clarke, wide open Powell down low for the jam; assist to Clarke and its 42-17.

7:34 p.m. — They say news is what’s unusual. This is breaking news then, Clarke just missed a three-pointer. That’s 7 straight to open the game.

7:32 p.m. — That’s the seventh three pointer for Clarke as he extends his lead to double digits, 23-12. Alcorn gets it back under 10, but the Hogs are dominating, 40-14.

7:31 p.m. — Stephen Cox manhandles Alcorn’s Eackles. ASU gets one of two free throws, 37-12 Arkansas with 10:30 left in half.

7:30 p.m. — Alcorn has only one field goal in almost seven minutes.

7:28 p.m. — And just like that, we’re at the second media time-out, 33-11 Arkansas.

7:26 p.m. — Nobles gets the breakaway on the assist from Clarke, Alcorn State’s coach storms out for a time out — we’re under 12 minutes so he burns a TO to try and stop Arkansas momentum.

7:25 p.m. — Clarke extends his lead back to nine, 20-11, with his sixth three-pointer of the night.

7:24 p.m. — Alcorn has cut Clarke’s lead to three, 14-11. The crowd reacts loud to Clarke drawing a charging foul from Alcorn. Razorbacks up 28-11 with just over 12 to go in the first.

7:21 p.m. — And for those scoring at home, Rotnei Clark leads Alcorn State, 14-9; the rest of the Razorbacks also lead Alcorn, 11-9.

7:21 p.m. — Clarke has yet to miss tonight — 4-4 on treys and now 2-2 at the line.

7:19 p.m. — Rotnei Clarke behind the back pass on the break and a tomahawk jam from Farmer makes it 23-7, with just over 14 minutes left.

7:16 p.m. — Clarke is a perfect 4-of-4 from behind the line as Arkansas is shooting 66.7% as a team to open up this lead. Alcorn State is also shooting 66.7%. Difference is, Alcorn has shot the ball only three times against Arkansas’ defense. Turnovers are 6-1.

7:15 p.m. — Clarke adds another three and we go to the first media timeout ahead, 21-6.

7:13 p.m. — Johnson backs up Clarke’s three and its now a 13-2 run, 11-0 unanswered, and Alcorn takes its first time out. Pelphrey comes off the bench with a fist-pumping energy.

7:12 p.m. — Stephen Cox never had to block the green like that, the two-sport Hog takes a big charge; Clarke gets a three off the turnover.

7:11 p.m. — Back-to-back turnovers by Alcorn State leading to a 9-2 run by Arkansas, now 13-6.

7:09 p.m. — Alcorn goes with full-court pressure after the free throw, only leads to the first open trey of the year for Clarke,

7:08 p.m. — Blocking foul on Washington draws first coaching stare of the season from Pelphrey.

7:07 p.m. — Three whistles, no shots either team; Washington’s tip in at 19:18 finally gets the scoring underway, 2-0 Razorbacks.

7:07 p.m. — Tip goes to Alcorn but stripped by the Razorbacks. Arkansas ball.

7:06 p.m. — Michael Sanchez on the bench in street clothes.

7:04 p.m. — Big ovation for John Pelphrey when he’s introduced.

7:03 p.m. — Mike Washington?

7:02 p.m. — The Trough area is full and the signs are up for the visitors: Who Cares, Who’s She, What’s that Smell, He’s Cute, Big Deal

7:00 p.m. — We’re seconds away from the final horn to clear the floor.

6:58 p.m. — Starters for Alcorn State: Boyd Searcy, Holt, Francis, Ragland.

6:56 p.m. — Starters for Arkansas tonight: Washington, Farmer, Clarke, Nobles, Powell.

6:54 p.m. — New pregame video should debut soon. Official Hog Call up next at the 6:00 to tip mark.

6:51 p.m. — Alcorn State comes into tonight’s game 0-1 for the year. We’re now a the national anthem, with the Air Force ROTC color guard.

6:48 p.m. — Razorbacks are heading off from warm-ups and we are now 12:30 to tipoff.

6:45 p.m. — Tonight’s game is on RazorVision and the Razorback Sports Network for radio.

6:44 p.m. — Arena announcer John George has made the official welcome for the cheer, pom and band — we are 17 minutes to tipoff tonight.

6:43 p.m. — Alcorn State has finished their warm-ups.

6:42 p.m. — Cody Lay and Chris Roberts are walk-ons joining the basketball team tonight. They are additions to the printed rosters, and true Razorbacks for stepping up.

6:40 p.m. — The Twitter tickets are gone for tonight, be sure to check it out next week.

6:20 p.m. — Alcorn State has taken the floor.

6:10 p.m. — Razorbacks are all on the court for warm-ups; Alcorn State not out yet.

6:05 p.m. — The pregame clock is running and we are at 56 to tipoff. And 30 minutes to the blog ticket giveaway.

5:27 p.m. — One last note before we pause the blog here in pregame, yes, we have seen all the media reports and Tweets regarding Razorback defensive coordinator Willy Robinson. We will have more information when it is available.

5:26 p.m. — Remember, two tickets to tonight’s game — reserved seats — are going to be given away outside the south entrance of the arena from you faithful blogger. Be looking for more info around 6:30.

5:26 p.m. — Not the only events, obviously — you can listen to Razorback volleyball tonight from Miss State through RazorVision and locally on KXUA-FM (88.3). Tomorrow, the NCAA Championship tickets get punched for men’s and women’s cross country — both at Waco, Texas.

5:25 p.m. — As the workers make the final prep for the season opener for men’s basketball, we welcome you to Bud Walton Arena. No pre-weekend blog this weekend as John Pelphrey’s team gets the full Friday night blog treatment.