Razorbacks Roll in NIT Opener at Providence

Mike Cawood March 19, 2019

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Reggie Chaney scored a career-high 14 points and blocked a career-high seven shots while Gabe Osabuohien scored 11 points and tied a career-high with eight rebounds to lead Arkansas to an 84-72 victory over Providence in the opening round of the 2019 National Invitation Tournament at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center Tuesday night.

The Razorbacks will now face Indiana in the second round on Saturday (Mar. 23) on ESPN. Game time has yet to be determined.

Chaney, Osabuohien, Adrio Bailey and Ethan Henderson combined to score 36 points and pull down 20 rebounds. However, it was Arkansas hot shooting from outside early that set the tone for the win.

The Razorbacks made an old-fashion, 3-point play to start the game and then made its next five 3-pointers to race out to a 20-9 lead. Later, Arkansas went up 11 points, 26-15, with 9:23 left in the first half and held a double-digit lead the rest of the game.

Overall, Arkansas shot 50 percent from the field and 47.6 percent from 3-point range. The Razorbacks were 10-of-21 from the 3-point arc, which was extended nearly two feet for the NIT, while the Friars were just 3-of-23, missing their first 13 attempts.

Mason Jones led the Razorbacks with 18 points, making 5-of-8 from the field (4-of-6 from 3-point range) while having four assists and four rebounds. Isaiah Joe added 12 points.

Maliek White led the Friars with 19 points while Alpha Diallo had a double-double (12 points and 11 rebounds).

FIRST HALF: Arkansas 42 – Providence 31

Arkansas led 12-5 at the first media timeout, hitting three 3-pointers and converting an old-fashion, 3-point play.
Arkansas pushed its lead to 20-9 after 3-pointers by Keyshawn-Embery-Simpson and Mason Jones. 17 of Arkansas’ first 20 points were 3-pointers (five 3’s and an old-fashion 3-pointer). The lone non-3-pointer was an Ethan Henderson dunk.
Arkansas’ 42 points in the first half tie for the second-most since the calendar flipped to 2019. Arkansas scored 45 in the first half in a win at LSU and scored 42 in an overtime loss to LSU. The most points Arkansas scored in the first half this season was 58 versus FIU, The Razorbacks also broke the 50-point plateau with 54 versus Montana State.
All nine Razorbacks that played in the first half scored at least three points.
Reggie Chaney led the Razorbacks with eight first-half points.
Arkansas out-rebounded the Friars 22-13. The Friars are fourth in the Big East in rebounding this season.

SECOND HALF: Arkansas maintained a double-digit lead.

Reggie Chaney started the second half for Gabe Osabuohien. Chaney scored the first points of the second half.
Providence briefly cut its deficit to 10 when Drew Edwards made a 3-pointer, snapping a streak of 13 straight misses to start the game. Desi Sills immediately answered with a 3-pointer of his own.

GAME NOTES

Arkansas’ starters were Desi Sills (G) – Isaiah Joe (G) – Jalen Harris (G) – Adrio Bailey (F) – Gabe Osabuohien (F). It is the first time for this lineup. Joe and Harris are the only Razorbacks to start all 33 games this season.
Providence controlled the tip. Adrio Bailey scored the first points on an old-fashion, 3-point play at the 19:35 mark.
Desi Sills hit the first 3-pointer for Arkansas, which was from 22-feet, 1.75-inches, approximately 1-foot, 8-inches further than the 3-point arc used during the regular season.
Ethan Henderson had four points in the first 12 minutes of the game. He entered with five total for the season. Henderson had five rebounds in the first 16 minutes. He entered the game with fix total for the season.
For the game, Henderson finished with six points and five rebounds in 18 minutes. Entering the game, Henderson had five points and six rebounds in 28 minutes.
Isaiah Joe made two 3-pointers, giving him 110 for the season. That total ranks fifth (tied) on the NCAA list for 3-pointers made by a freshman. Next on the NCAA list is 113, which was by Kentucky’s Jamal Murray, the SEC record holder for 3’s made in a season by a freshman.
Reggie Chaney eclipsed his career high, getting to 14, on a tip-in at 6:35.
Arkansas is now 2-2 versus Providence.
Arkansas is 6-4 in NIT games.