USC Up State at Arkansas
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Where: Bud Walton Arena, Fayetteville
Radio: Arkansas Razorback Radio Network
TV: Razorvision
Marshawn Powell could have been considered missing in action in the Arkansas Razorbacks first exhibition game last Friday night, picking up four fouls and scoring just 7 points and grabbing two rebounds.
But as Hogs’ head coach Mike Anderson suggested after that game, Powell made his presence known Tuesday in the Razorbacks’ 76-54 exhibition victory over Christian Brothers.
“I was just playing basketball and not worrying about the officials,” Powell said. “That’s what Coach [Mike Anderson] told me to do.”
Powell made 11-of-17 shots to score 26 points in 25 minutes on the floor. He also blocked 4 shots and made a steal.
The 6-7 Powell did have a size advantage, but unlike in the first exhibition game, he put it to good use. He was active running the floor and made no turnovers.
“He’s got a chance to be a very good player in what we do,” Anderson said. “I like Marshawn’s versatility.”
Anderson credited the blue-collar play of Michael Sanchez for bringing contagious energy to the team.
Christian Brothers attempted to control the pace of the game, running the Princeton weave and operating very deliberately most of the contest. The Bucs only turned the ball over seven times in the contest, but the Razorbacks pressure defense did wear the squad down in the second half.
“That was two that play opposites,” Arkansas coach Mike Anderson said following the game. “We’re at different extremes. They are patient and we’re not, but they tested our patience tonight and I thought our kids did pretty good. We played a lot of guys.”
The Bucs’ legs went in final 8 minutes, and the Hogs forced them into quicker and less prudent shots. Christian Brothers shot on 35.2 percent from the field and missed 20 of 28 three-point attempts.
“They hung around and hung around and cut it to one in the second half, but I think fatigue played a big factor,” Anderson said.
Powell was the only Hog in double figures, but Julysses Nobles scored 9 points and had 4 assists. Rickey Scott had 8 points, 8 assists and 6 rebounds. Walk-on sophomore Kikko Haydar scored 8 points and B.J. Young had 7 points and 3 assists.
Anderson liked that Arkansas had 18 assists on 30 made baskets.
Rashad “Ky” Madden did not play because he broke a team rule, Anderson said.
