MBB Preview: Arkansas vs Texas

Who: Arkansas Razorbacks (16-11, 5-9 SEC) vs Texas Longhorns (16-11, 5-9 SEC)
What: Arkansas to host Texas for a Bud Walton Arena “White Out.”
When: Wednesday – Feb. 26 – 8:00 pm (CT)
Where: Fayetteville, Ark. – Bud Walton Arena / Nolan Richardson Court (19,200)
How (to follow):
– TV/Stream: ESPN2 / Watch ESPN APP (Tom Hart and Ron Slay)
– Radio: Learfield Razorback Sports Network (Chuck Barrett and Matt Zimmerman)
– Sirius/XM: Sirius: 380 / XM: 380 || SXM App Channel 970
– Compass Radio: SiriusXM 84 on Varsity Network App (Kyle Youmans and Mike Wozniak)

– Arkansas Gameday App
– Live Stats

– Arkansas Game Notes
– Texas Game Notes
– SEC Notes/Stats

FAYETTEVILLE – Arkansas will look to sweep the season series with Texas when the Razorbacks and Longhorns meet on Wednesday (Feb. 26) for a “White Out” at Bud Walton Arena. Tipoff is set for 8 pm (CT) and the game will be televised on SEC Network.

Arkansas defeated Texas, 78-70, earlier this month in Austin.

After Texas, the Razorbacks have three games left in the regular season and will start a two-game road trip on Saturday at South Carolina. Arkansas stays on the road to play at Vanderbilt on Tuesday before wrapping the regular season versus Mississippi State on Mar. 8 (Saturday) in Bud Walton Arena.

NOTES:

• Wednesday will be the second meeting this year between long-time rivals Arkansas and first-year SEC member Texas. Arkansas faced Texas at least twice a year, every year, from the 1923-24 season (Arkansas’ first year of basketball) until the 1990-91 season as members of the Southwest Conference.
• Overall, Arkansas and Texas have met on 156 previous occasions. The only other program the Hogs have played more is Texas A&M at 170 meetings thanks to the Aggies joining the SEC for the 2012-13 season (12 years).
• Arkansas leads the all-time series versus Texas, 88-68, including a 46-21 advantage in games played in Fayetteville.
• With a win earlier this year, Arkansas has won 33 of the last 48 games dating back to the 1974-75 season.
• Earlier this year when the Hogs and Longhorns met, Arkansas used a 15-0 run from the end of the first half (2:21) to the start of the second half (15:25) to turn a six-point lead into a 21-point cushion (45-24). However, Texas made a serious run late in the game but the Razorbacks held on to win 78-70. After Arkansas built that 21-point lead, Texas went on a 12-0 run to make the score 58-49 in the Hogs’ favor. Adou Thiero ended the spurt with a dunk. Later, Texas got to within eight before Johnell Davis hit a 3-pointer with 3:20 left, the first of several big plays down the stretch. The Longhorns worked its deficit to six (67-61) after two free throws with 1:27 left. Karter Knox immediately answered with two from the stripe for Arkansas. Julian Pope responded with a 3-pointer to make it a five-point game with 51 seconds remaining. Davis was immediately fouled and he sank both free throws. Arkansas got a stop and was fouled. Arkansas missed its free throws but Davis came through with a steal with 30 seconds left on the clock. D.J. Wagner was fouled and made both to put the game out of reach. Billy Richmond III sealed the win with a blocked shot with 23 ticks remaining. Later, Richmond hit two free throws with eight seconds left to provide the 78-70 final. Davis scored a season-high 24 points with four steals. Zvonimir Ivisic had a career-high 12 rebounds while adding four blocked shots. Tre Johnson led the Longhorns with 25 points.
• Arkansas is coming off a come-from-behind win over #15 Missouri. Arkansas was out-rebounded 20-8 in the first half (Mizzou had nine offensive rebounds) and Mizzou was 8-of-19 from 3-point while Arkansas was just 1-of-10. One of Mizzou’s 3-pointers came at the buzzer before halftime. HOWEVER, Arkansas was down just seven, 48-41. The 48 points by Mizzou were the 4th-most by an opponent this year. (The most is Mizzou scoring 52 in the first half in CoMo last month.) Arkansas stayed close by shooting 53.6% despite its 1-of-10 shooting from 3-point, and was 10-of-13 at the free throw line (MIZ was 4-of-5 FT). Arkansas also forced 12 Mizzou turnovers.
• For the game, Arkansas forced 18 turnovers and out-scored the Tigers, 30-14 on points off turnovers and 22-4 on fast breaks. The Razorbacks’ starting five each scored in double figures.
• The second half comeback was possible due to a few factors. First, Tigers Caleb Grill, Jacob Crews and Marques Warrick combined for 33 points (8-of-16 3PT) in the first half. In the second half, Warrick scored six points (making two 3-pointers) while Grill and Crews did not score. Grill was 0-of-7, all 3-pointers and Crews did not attempt a shot. Second, Arkansas out-rebounded Mizzou 20-15 in the second half. Third, Arkansas was 5-of-8 from 3PT in the 2nd half while Mizzou was 4-of-17. Fourth, Arkansas shot 54.7%, its 2nd-best effort in an SEC game, and scored 92 points, its most in an SEC game.
• Johnell Davis, who had 10 steals in his first 16 games of the season, has 26 in the last nine games.
• With Boogie Fland’s injury, D.J. Wagner has moved to the point guard spot. In his nine games at the point, Wagner has led the team in assists seven times, Including 46 over the span (5.1 avg). He was only averaging 2.7 assists in the first 22 games (prior to Fland’s injury).

For more information on Arkansas Men’s Basketball, follow @RazorbackMBB on X.