FAYETTEVILLE – Anthony Black scored 17 points with eight assists and a career-high five steals while Davonte Davis scored 16 points with five rebounds and four assists to lead #25 Arkansas to a 69-57 victory over Ole Miss Saturday afternoon at Bud Walton Arena.=
Jordan Walsh and Joseph Pinion each added 13 points in the win.
Ole Miss was in control most of the first half before Pinion made a layup with 2:59 left before the break to put the Razorbacks up 26-25, a lead they would not relinquish the rest of the game.
Arkansas rode that momentum into the second half and pushed the lead to 21 (63-42) with 6:16 to play.
The Rebels answered with an 11-1 run to trim their deficit to 11 (64-53) with 4:20 to play. However, Davis ended the dry spell with a free throw and the Razorbacks maintained a double-digit lead for the rest of the game.
Ole Miss only had two players score in double figures as Jayveous McKinnis and Daeshun Ruffin each scored 10 points.
Arkansas stays at home to host the LSU Tigers on Tuesday (Jan. 24). Tipoff is set for 6 pm (CT) and the game will be televised on ESPN2.
FIRST HALF: Arkansas: 32 – Ole Miss: 29
- Arkansas used a late run to lead the last three minutes of the half.
- There were four ties and nine lead changes.
- Arkansas only committed four turnovers and had five steals.
- Davonte Davis led the Hogs with nine points.
- Makhi Mitchell only scored two points in 5:56 but led the team with a +7.
- Ole Miss shot 52.2% and only took two 3-pointers, making one. Arkansas was 3-of-11 from 3-point range.
- Jayveous McKinnis led the Rebels with eight points.
SECOND HALF: Arkansas: 37 – Ole Miss: 28
- Arkansas turned up the defensive pressure in the second half as Ole Miss only shot 37.9% and committed eight turnovers thanks to seven Razorback steals. Also, Arkansas had zero blocked shots in the first half with four in the second.
- Ole Miss was just 2-of-7 at the foul line in the period.
- Arkansas was 5-of-8 from 3-point range and 6-of-9 at the line.
- Black had 11 of his points, four of his assists and four of his steals in the second half.
- All 10 of Daeshun Ruffin’s points for Ole Miss came in the second half.
GAME NOTES
- Arkansas’ starting lineup was Anthony Black – Davonte Davis – Ricky Council – Jordan Walsh – Kamani Jonson for the first time this season.
- Ole Miss won the tip.
- Jayveous McKinnis (Ole Miss) scored the first points of the game at 19:27. Anthony Black scored Arkansas’ first points at 18:55.
- Derrian Ford and Makhi Mitchell were the first Razorback subs for the first time this season.
- Jordan Walsh played all 40 minutes. It was the first time he played all 40 minutes of regulation this season and the first time he played all 20 minutes of a half.
- Joseph Pinion tied his career high in points with 13. He also had 13 in the win at home versus Missouri. He had nine total rebounds for the season before collecting a career-high five versus Ole Miss.
- Arkansas has won five straight in the series versus OIe Miss and 11 of the last 14.
- Davonte Davis made three 3-pointers for the second straight game. It is just the third time in his career he has made at least three 3’s. He only made two triples in his first 11 games but since SEC play began, Davis has made 10 in seven games. He has scored in double figures in 6-of-7 SEC games this season.
- Arkansas is 4-0 all-time in the Cardinal Camo uniform, including a 2-0 mark at home. Arkansas also wore those uniforms in a win over Fordham earlier this season. Overall, Arkansas is 3-0 in the Eric Musselman era when wearing Cardinal uniforms at home.
- Makhel Mitchell had five rebounds, four points, two blocked shots and two steals before exiting the game late with a foot injury.
- Anthony Black has 15 assists in his last two games (seven at Mizzou and eight versus Ole Miss). He is the first Razorback with at least 15 points, eight assists and five steals in a game since Kareem Reid (29-9-5) versus Louisville on Dec. 9, 1997 (HogStats).
- Arkansas is 6-0 at home (6-3 overall) when ranked #25. Our last win when ranked #25 was versus Iona, 94-77, on Nov. 11, 2014.
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