FAYETTEVILLE – Before the largest crown in Bud Walton Arena history – on the 30th anniversary of the first game played in the facility, Arkansas got 21 points from Khalif Battle and a double-double from Trevon Brazile to defeat #7 Duke, 80-75, in the SEC-ACC Challenge.
With the victory, Razorback head coach Eric Musselman picked up his 100th win as Arkansas’ head coach. He is 100-45 in his fifth year in Fayetteville and 210-79 in his ninth year as a collegiate head coach.
Arkansas played without its leading scorer Tramon Mark, who was injured versus North Carolina in the Razorbacks’ final game at the Battle 4 Atlantis. However, Battle picked up the slack and led the team in scoring for the fourth time. In all four instances, he scored 21 points, made five field goals, three 3-pointers and eight free throws. He added five rebounds and five assists – one shy of his career high.
Brazile made a career-high four 3-pointers, including a key triple with 2:16 left to put the Hogs up 12, and finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds for his third double-double of the season and third over his last four games.
El Ellis was also a central figure in the win. He scored nine points but drew seven fouls and had six assists with zero turnovers.
Duke entered the game 21st in the NCAA in field goal percentage (50.7%) but the Razorbacks held the Blue Devils to just 35.8% shooting thanks to 10 blocked shots – a career-high six from Chandler Lawson. Duke was also eighth in the NCAA in assist-to-turnover ratio, but only had 10 helpers with eight turnovers against the Hogs.
After getting just 19 assists in three games at the Battle 4 Atlantis, Arkansas dished out 17 – on 26 made baskets – in the win over Duke, including 10 assists on 12 made baskets in the first half. Arkansas also out-scored the Blue Devils’ bench 36-9 thanks to Battle’s 21 points.
The first half featured eight ties and 16 lead changes. The last lead change came on a Jeremiah 3-pointer with 24 seconds left to give the Razorbacks a 33-32 lead at the break. Arkansas opened the second half with a pair of field goals and held the lead the rest of the game. Arkansas pushed the lead to as many as 14 twice in the second half.
Duke’s press allowed the Blue Devils to trim the deficit to three points with 17 seconds left. However, Davonte Davis made a free throw with 15 ticks left and, after Duke missed a shot on the ensuing possession, Battle went 1-of-2 at the line with five seconds left to secure the win.
Arkansas stays at home to host Furman on Monday (Dec. 4). Tipoff at Bud Walton Arena is set for 7 pm (CT) and the game will be broadcast on SEC Network Plus.
