Hogs Fall at Florida

February 18, 2020

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Arkansas cut a 19-point deficit to two but could not complete the comeback as Florida pulled away late for a 73-59 victory Tuesday night at Exactech Arena.

Arkansas faced its largest deficit with 7:30 to play in the first half. From that point, the Razorbacks kept chipping away, trailing by seven at halftime. Arkansas opened the second half with a flurry and were down two (42-40) after an Ethan Henderson dunk at the 14:44 mark of the second half. Two minutes later, Mason Jones sank a jumper to make the score 44-42.

Overall, Arkansas outscored the Gators 22-6, thanks to 12 points from Adrio Bailey, to close the first half and open the second half.

The Razorbacks were only down four, 56-52, after a Bailey basket with seven minutes left to play. From that point, Florida went on a 10-0 run to lead 66-52 with3:39 remaining to secure the win.

Keyontae Johnson led all scorers with 24 points and 10 rebounds. He was 15-of-17 from the free throw line – compared to Arkansas being 12-of-19 at the charity stripe. Andrew Nembhard added 17 points and Noah Locke had 11.

Jones led Arkansas with 21 points and five assists. Bailey had SEC career highs in both points (16) and rebounds (8). Jimmy Whitt Jr., added 10 points and three steals.

Arkansas returns home to host Missouri (Sat. – Feb. 22) and Tennessee (Wed. – Feb. 26).

FIRST HALF: Arkansas 26 – Florida 33

Ethan Henderson got his first career start. He scored three of Arkansas’ first five points. Florida led 6-5 at the first media timeout (15:59).
Florida went on a 10-0 run to lead 16-5 and force an Arkansas timeout.
Arkansas was down 19 at the 7:30 mark (30-11). However, Arkansas outscored the Gators 15-3 over the final 7:30.
Arkansas went on an 8-0 run to end the first half to cut its deficit to seven, 33-26.
Adrio Bailey led the Razorbacks with nine points and eight rebounds. The eight boards are a career high for an SEC game.
Mason Jones added eight points.
Arkansas was just 1-of-9 from 3-poinnt range while the Gators were 5-of-12 (41.7%).

SECOND HALF: Arkansas 33 – Florida 40

Mason Jones scored the first points of the second half to make the run 10-0.
The Razorbacks got to within three (36-33) after two technical free throws by Mason Jones (18:25).
Ethan Henderson had a pair of dunks to get Arkansas to within two (42-40) at 14:34.
Mason Jones sank a jumper to once again Arkansas to within two, 44-42, with 12:45 left, but that is as close as the Hogs would get.
Up four with seven minutes to play, Florida used an 10-0 run over 3:21 to push its advantage to 14, 66-52, with 3:39 left to secure the win.

GAME NOTES

Arkansas’ starting lineup was Jimmy Whitt (G) – Desi Sills (G) – Mason Jones (G) – Ethan Henderson (F) – Adrio Bailey (F) for the first time this season.
Florida won the tip for the 14th time in 26 games this season. Arkansas is 7-7 in such games.
Keyontae Johnson scored the first points of the game, a free throw at 18:58. Jimmy Whitt Jr., scored the Razorbacks’ first points, a jumper at 17:41.
Ethan Henderson earned his first career start and scored seven points. He entered the game with 11 points for the season.
Mason Jones only needs 17 points for 1,000 in his two-year career as a Razorback. He will be the 44th Razorback to score 1,000 career points.
Mason Jones has made 179 free throws this season and ranks sixth on the school’s single-season list.
Mason Jones has scored 283 points versus SEC competition this season to rank 9th on the school’s single-season list.
Mason Jones has made 102 free throws versus SEC competition this season to rank second. Corliss Williamson holds the record with 109 FT made in SEC games in 1994-95.

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