The Arkansas Razorbacks moved to 2-0 on the season Wednesday with an eye-opening 91-68 victory over the Oakland Golden Grizzlies at Bud Walton Arena.
While the Grizzlies aren’t a household name in college hopps, they aren’t your average preseason cupcake, either. Coach Greg Kampe’s squad had won back-to-back Summit League titles and made back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances. Senior Reggie Hamilton is considered one of the top guards on the mid-major level.
Going into the game, this was a contest a knowledgeable basketball fan would have considered a hurdle for the Hogs, even at home, considering the transition between John Pelphrey and Mike Anderson as head coach has left the Razorbacks with a short and relatively inexperienced 10-man scholarship roster.
During the last nine years, Pelphrey and Stan Heath’s Razorbacks struggled and even lost at home to squads of the Golden Grizzlies caliber early in the season. But that era of Razorback basketball is officially over.
The Razorbacks attacked Oakland defensively with wave after wave of pressure defense, and on the other end, attacked the basket with a vengeance.
As a result, the Golden Grizzlies rarely got a chance to find their breath or bearings until the game ended.
The Hogs forced the Grizzlies into 18 turnovers and held them to 34.7 percent shooting on the night, while the Hogs shot 53.6 percent from the field and cashed in on 9-of-12 free throws in the fast-paced game. The Hogs also had 21 assists on 37 baskets.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Junior Marshawn Powell showed up big for the Hogs’ in the paint again, scoring 20 points and grabbing 7 rebounds in 24 minutes of playing time. Powell was 8-of-8 from the field in the first half. Powell also had 2 assists, 2 blocked shots and a steal.
Five other Hogs scored in double figures with B.J. Young leading the way with 16, Mardracus Wade with 14 and Rickey Scott, Julysses Nobles and Ky Madden with 10 apiece.
PLAY OF THE GAME
The way the Hogs attacked the basket there were many choices for play of the game. Rickey Scott slammed home a crowd-pleasing, one-handed dunk early in the game off a Ky Madden steal and assist for a 15-6 lead with 14:18 to play.
B.J. Young powered in a two-handed dunk with 4:07 in the first half off a Julysses Nobles assist for a 46-21 lead.
But the play of the game came with 16:10 to play on a beautifully crafted fast break. The best fast breaks are when there are as few dribbles as possible and I didn’t count but one on this play which started with a strong rebound and a quick outlet pass from Michael Sanchez to Ky Madden. Madden quickly spotted Rickey Scott at the top of the key, who then offered up an under-handed scoop pass to Powell, who finished with a dunk for a 64-41 lead.
Crisp, efficient passing and a thunderous finish all adds up to the play of the game.
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
Marshawn Powell led the Hogs with 7 rebounds, but Chairman of the Board honors go to Marvell Waithe, who grabbed 6 boards in just 14 minutes of playing time.
The Golden Grizzlies did outrebound the Hogs 41-40, with 19 of those coming on the offensive end. Giving up that many offensive boards, even in a blowout, is area of concern for the Hogs.
STAT OF THE GAME
This Razorback basketball team has already conquered what held back several recent Arkansas squads — selfishness. Anderson said early on that this would be a team that shared the basketball and that has proven to be true. Twenty-one of the Hogs’ 37 baskets came off assists. Nobles led the way with 7, while Scott passed out 5. Four other Razorbacks — Powell, Madden, Devonta Abron, and Young — had two assists appiece.
THICK AS THIEVES
The Hogs had 10 steals on the night with Wade, Scott and Nobles each making two.
UP NEXT
The Razorbacks take their show to North Little Rock for their annual trip to Verizon Arena, this time to face old Southwest Conference foe, the Houston Cougars. Houston is 2-0 with an 88-42 victory over Grambling and an 84-71 victory over Utah Valley. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. Tickets are available. The game will be televised by FSN.
