FAYETTEVILLE – Arkansas had its best defensive performance of the year – and one of its best overall – in a 60-40 victory over LSU Tuesday night at Bud Walton Arena.
The Razorbacks were led by Davonte Davis (16 points on 7-of-8 shooting and seven rebounds), Anthony Black (14 points, seven rebounds and three steals), Ricky Council IV (10 points, six rebounds and career-high tying seven assists) and Makhi Mitchell (10 points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots).
The following is a breakdown of the defensive dominance:
• Arkansas held LSU to 40 points, which ties for the 10th lowest by any opponent in the modern era (1970-71) and the second-fewest in an SEC game.
• Arkansas held LSU to 25.9% shooting (14-of-54), which is the fifth lowest by an SEC opponent and lowest since holding Vanderbilt to a record-low in SEC games of 25% (14-of-56) on Feb. 10, 2018.
• No LSU player scored in double digits.
• LSU was just 3-of-25 (12%) from the field in the first half.
• The 14 points ties for the sixth-lowest point total by an opponent in the shot clock era. The 38 points by Arkansas is the sixth-best, first half total this season.
• The 14 points are the third lowest in a half by an SEC opponent behind 9 by Miss State (2/7/15) and 11 by Vandy (1/12/13).
• The 24-point halftime lead ties for the sixth-largest halftime advantage in an SEC game.
The solid Razorback defense helped Arkansas outscore LSU 18-4 on points off turnovers and 15-7 on fastbreak points.
Adam Miller and KJ Williams led LSU with nine points, but the pair was just 5-of-22 from the field.
Arkansas will step out of league play to face #17 Baylor in the SEC-Big 12 Challenge on Saturday (Jan. 28). The game will be played in Waco, Texas. Tipoff is set for 3 pm (CT) and the game will be televised by ESPN.
