Hogs Handle Tigers on Senior Night

FAYETTEVILLE – Mason Jones scored at least 30 points for the eighth time this year, but it was Jimmy Whitt Jr., who shined brightest on his Senior Night to lead Arkansas to a 99-90 victory over LSU Wednesday night at Bud Walton Arena.

Whitt willed the Razorbacks to the win as he recorded his eighth career double-double – third this year – with 26 points, his second-best career effort, and a career-high 15 rebounds. He added five assists and two steals.

Jones, the SEC scoring leader, finished with 36 points while setting two school records. Jones became the school’s single-season leader for free throws made, now with 219, and has scored 394 points in SEC games. (The previous marks were 212 free throws made by Sidney Moncreif and 368 points in SEC games by Todd Day.)

LSU scored first and the lead bounced back and forth until two quick triples by Desi Sills put the Hogs up 9-6, a lead they would not relinquish. Overall, Arkansas scored a season-high 55 points in the first half and took a season-best, 21-point lead into the locker room (55-34).

LSU rallied in the second half, scoring 56 points. The Razorbacks led by 23 with 17:41 left to play and were up 17 (77-60) with 7:15 remaining before the Tigers started chipping away. Skylar Mays scored 21 second-half points as LSU worked its deficit to seven few on four occasions from the 1:54 mark until 35 seconds left.

However, Arkansas, who missed 12 second-half free throws, was 6-of-6 at the charity stripe inside the final 30 seconds to seal the victory.

Sills added 13 points and Isaiah Joe 11 while Ethan Henderson had a career-high 10 points with six rebounds.

Mays, with 28 points, led four Tigers in double figures. He was joined by Emmitt Williams (16), Trendon Watford (14) and Javonte Smart (14).

Arkansas closes the regular season on Saturday at Texas A&M. Game time is set for 3:30 pm and the contest will be televised on the SEC Network.

FIRST HALF: Arkansas 55 – LSU 34

  • Desi Sill came off the bench and immediately drained two 3-pointers to give Arkansas a 9-6 lead at the first media timeout. The Hogs maintained the advantage, 15-9, at the 12-minute timeout.
  • Arkansas out-rebounded the Tigers 14-12 and led 26-16 at the 8-minute timeout.
  • Jimmy Whitt steal led to a Mason Jones 3-poinnter and the Hogs’ largest lead of the first half at the time, 15-points (35-20 at 5:58).
  • The Razorback pushed their lead to 20 (42-22) with 3:45 left in the half. Jimmy Whitt added a free throw coming out of the timeout for a 21-point lead (43-22).
  • Mason Jones made a 4-point play with three seconds left in the half to give the Hogs a 55-34 lead.
  • Jones led the way with 20 first=half points while Whitt added 12 and Sills 10.
  • Whitt had seven first-half rebounds.
  • Arkansas shot 53% from the field in the first half while holding LSU to 35%,
  • The 55 points was the most by the Razorbacks this season and the fourth time Arkansas has scored at lleast 50 in any half. The only other time Arkansas scored 50 in the first half was 50 versus Tulsa.
  • The 21-point lead was the largest by the Razorbacks at halftime this season. The previous best was 50-34 versus Tulsa.

SECOND HALF: Arkansas 44 – LSU 56

  • The 56 points scored by LSU in the second half was the most by an opponent this season.
  • LSU shot 51.3% from the field and 42.9% from 3-point range in the second half.
  • Skylar Mays scored 21 of LSU’s 56 second-half points.
  • Jones (16 points) and Whitt (14 points) accounted for 30 of Arkansas’ 44 second-half points.

GAME NOTES

  • After the game, Arkansas honored its 2020 seniors, including Jeantal Cylla, Jamario Bell, Jimmy Whitt Jr., and Adrio Bailey.
  • Arkansas’ starting lineup was Jimmy Whitt (G) – Isaiah Joe (G) – Mason Jones (G) – Ethan Henderson (F) – Adrio Bailey (F) for the third straight game.
  • LSU won the tip, the 16th time the opponent did so in 30 games this season. Arkansas is 8-8 in such games.
  • Marlon Taylor scored the first points of the game, jumper on the left block at 19:04. Jimmy Whitt Jr., scored the Razorbacks’ first points, two free throws at 18:14.
  • Arkansas showed great improvement on the backboards compared the teams’ first encounter, a game LSU won 79-77 with eight seconds left.
    – In the first meeting, LSU outrebounded Arkansas 53-24. LSU had 23 offensive rebounds.
    – In the second meeting, LSU outrebounded Arkansas 40-35.
  • In the last four games, Arkansas has only committed 26 turnovers the last four games.
    – 8 vs. Missouri – 7 vs. Tennessee – 6 at Georgia – 5 vs. LSU
  • Of Whitt’s 15 rebounds, 14 were on the defensive end.
  • Mason Jones:
    – is averaging 21.8 ppg to lead the SEC.
    – is averaging 23.2 ppg in SEC games to lead the league.
    – his scoring average in SEC games would be a school record. (Todd Day averaged 23.0 in 1992).
    – enters the school’s single-season top 10 for scoring, now with 631 (10th)
    – set the school record for most points in a season versus SEC teams, now with 394
    – set the school record for most free throws made in a season, now with 219
    – extended his own record for most free throws made in a season versus SEC teams, now with 142
    – Has now scored 1,094 points, moving to 33rd on the school’s all-time list
  • Mason Jones IS THE ONLY PLAYER IN THE SEC to lead his team in scoring, rebounding, assists and steals.
  • Mason Jones IS THE ONLY PLAYER IN THE SEC to ranks among the SEC top 20 in scoring, rebounding, assists and steals.
  • Isaiah Joe scored in double figures for the fourth straight game since returning from surgery. (Arkansas is 3-1 since his return).
    – Joe was 8-of-8 from the free throw line and, since his return, is 30-of-30 at the line.
    – Joe is shooting 95.3% (41-43) from the free throw line in SEC games, which would be a school record.
    – The current mark is 94.1 (342-34) by Pat Bradley.
  • Desi Sills drained two 3-pooniters early to get Arkansas going and scored in double figures for the fourth straight game.
  • Desi Sills is shooting 44.1% (26-of-59) from deep over the last 12 games. Sills was only shooting 21.3% from 3PT in his first 18 games.

 

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