MBB Preview: Arkansas vs UCA

Who: #19/20 Arkansas Razorbacks (2-1, 0-0 SEC) vs Central Arkansas Bears (2-1, 0-0 United Athletic Conf.)
What: Arkansas plays in-state foe Central Arkansas for the 11th time in a series that dates back to 1923-24.
When: Friday – Nov. 11 – 7:00 pm (CT)
Where: Fayetteville, Ark. • Bud Walton Arena/Nolan Richardson Court (19,200)
How (to follow):
– TV/Stream: SEC Network+/Watch ESPN (Josh Haley and Joe Kleine)
– Radio: Learfield Razorback Sports Network (Chuck Barrett and Matt Zimmerman)
– Sirius/XM: 179 or 230 || SXM App/Online Channel 954

– Arkansas Live Stats
– Razorback Gameday App
– Purchase Tickets

– Arkansas Game Notes   
– Central Arkansas Game Notes
– SEC Notes

FAYETTEVILLE – Fresh off a 76-53 win over Robert Morris on Wednesday, #19/20 Arkansas returns to the hardwood on Friday (Nov. 13) to host in-state foe Central Arkansas. Tipoff is set for 7 pm and the game will be broadcast on SEC Network+.

This will be the 11th meeting all-time in a series that dates back to the Razorbacks’ first season of basketball (1923-24). The teams played six times between 1923-24 and 1946-47 before the series went on hiatus. However, the programs will be meeting for the fifth time in a seven-year span on Friday. Arkansas owns a 10-0 advantage in the all-time series, including a 6-0 scoresheet in Fayetteville.

After hosting UCA, Arkansas travels to New York City to face Indiana in the Bad Boy Series – New York on Tuesday (Nov. 17). The game is set to start at 7:30 pm (ET) / 6:30 pm (CT). PEACOCK and the NBC Sports Network will broadcast the game.

NOTES:

• The last time the program met was last season (Nov. 11) in Bud Walton Arena. Arkansas won, 93-56. Karter Knox recorded his first career double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds, while freshmen Darius Acuff Jr. and Meleek Thomas combined for 38 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists to lead #21 Arkansas to a 93-56 victory over Central Arkansas at Bud Walton Arena. Knox was a key reason Arkansas led 43-34 at halftime with his 14 points and seven boards at the break. In the second half, the Razorbacks pulled away, using a 17-1 run, including a 13-0 spurt, midway through the half to secure the win. Acuff scored 17 of his 21 points in the second half, going 7-of-9 from the field and 3-of-5 from 3-point range. Thomas scored 17 points with six rebounds and a team-high six assists. Arkansas was able to out-score the Bears, 50-22, in the second half by holding UCA to 0-of-18 shooting from 3-point range.
• Coach Cal is 2-0 all-time versus UCA at Arkansas, but is 4-0 versus UCA head coach John Shulman all-time. Shulman was previously head coach at UT Chattanooga. Cal’s Memphis team beat Shulman’s Mocs in 2008 and Cal’s Kentucky team beat UTC in 2011.
• Cooper Bowser had grabbed at least 7 rebounds in all three games. He grabbed 7+ rebounds 19 times in his first three seasons.
• Just 3 games into this season, Jeremiah Wilkinson is the only Hog to score in double figures in all three games. In 66 career games, he has scored in double figures 54 times.
• Arkansas had 25 assists with just 10 turnovers versus Robert Morris. The Hogs moved from 213th (1.12) to 104th (1.5) in the NCAA in assist-turnover margin after the performance. The Hogs moved from 200th (14.5) to 81st (18.0) in the NCAA in assists per game. Arkansas is now 27-0 under Coach Cal when dishing out at least 20 assists.
• Arkansas shot exactly 50% from the field versus RMU. The Hogs improved to 35-0 under Coach Cal when shooting at least 50% from the field.
• Arkansas held RMU to 53 points. The Hogs are 7-0 under Coach Cal when opponents score less than 60 pts.

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