Arkansas had a 17-point lead at half time and never let that cushion drop to less than 16 in the second half. The 97 points were a season-high, as Arkansas’ pressure defense continued to feed an efficient and quick offense. The Razorbacks led by as many as 34 late in the game when a 6-0 run pushed the lead to 91-57.
Bud Walton Arena reached its loudest pitch of the evening with 8:55 left in the game when freshman forward Hunter Mickelson athletically swatted away a Delta Devils shot, triggering an Arkansas fast break that ended with a three-pointer by senior Marvell Waithe. The basket increased the Razorback lead to 80-53.
An early barrage of three-point shooting helped Arkansas jump out to its early lead. After converting an and-one layup to give Arkansas a 4-0 lead, senior forward Michael Sanchez missed his free throw and an offensive rebound found him wide open at the top of the key. Sanchez launched from long range, sinking the first three-pointer of his career. Nobles knocked down back-to-back three-pointers of his own on Arkansas’ next two possessions and Wade made one on the next offensive trip to give the Razorbacks an 18-3 lead just over four minutes into the game on 4-of-5 shooting from behind the arc.
