Arkansas rallies to beat Valparaiso
Hogs win in annual Little Rock game
By the Times Sports Staff
sports@theeveningtimes.com
NORTH LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas was down five (63-58) with 4:14 left in the game but went on a 12-2 run, thanks to a highlight-reel blocked shot by Adrio Bailey and two 3-pointers by Mason Jones, to pull out a 72-68 victory over Valparaiso Saturday night at Simmons Bank Arena.
Isaiah Joe started the run at the 3:50 mark, making three free throws when he was fouled attempting a 3-pointer from the top of the key. With 1:30 remaining and the Hogs down three, Joe got a steal and fed Jones for a 3-pointer from the left wing to knot the game, 65-65. On Valpo s ensuing possession, Jimmy Whitt Jr., got a steal and Jones drained a triple with 53 seconds left for a 3-point Razorback lead.
For the third consecutive defensive possession, Arkansas got a defensive stop as Bailey came through with the play of the game. The Crusaders’ leading scorer, Javon Freeman-Liberty, drove the basket and Bailey blocked the layup attempt. Joe gathered the rebound, was fouled and sank two free throws to cap the run for a fivepoint lead with 36 seconds left. Valpo answered with a 3-pointer to make it a two-point game, but Jones was fouled on the inbounds play and promptly drained two free throws with 25 seconds left to provide the 72-68 final.
Jones, who battled foul trouble and missed his first three 3-pointers, made his last two triples of the game and was 8-of-9 from the free throw line to score 20 points. He added nine rebounds and four assists and was the only Razorback in double figures in the plus-minus with +17.
Joe led the Razorbacks with 21 pints and added seven rebounds. He made five 3-pointers and was 6-of-7 from the free throw line. Bailey sank two early 3-pointers and finished with 10 points, five rebounds, four blocked shots and three steals.
Whitt added 10 points as well.
Game Notes:
• Attendance was 15,630 — the fifth-largest crowd all-time for a Razorback game at North Little Rock.
• This was the first time this season Arkansas had four players score double figures: Joe (21), Jones (20), Whitt (10) and Bailey (10).
Joe made five 3-pointers to give him 152 for his career. He is one shy of tying Jonathan Modica for 10th on the school’s all-time list.
• Desi Sills bruised his right knee in the first half. He attempted to return early in the second half but quickly returned to the bench for the remainder of the game.
• Arkansas is 10-1, its best start since opening 2016-17 11-1. This is the 25th time in 97 seasons of basketball Arkansas has started with at least 10 wins in the team’s first 12 games.
The Arkansas Razorbacks will return to action following the Christmas break on Sunday, Dec.
29, when the Hogs take on the Indiana Hoosiers.
Game time is set for 6 p.m. (ET)/5 p.m. (CT) in Bloomington, Indiana, and the contest will be aired on the Big 10 Network.
