FAYETTEVILLE – Ricky Council IV scored 11 points during a decisive 17-0 run to lead #11 Arkansas (6-1) to a 74-61 victory over Troy (6-2) Monday night at Bud Walton Arena.
Overall, Council pumped in a game-best 27 points – his second-best career effort – going 12-of-18 from the field. Key among those were back-to-back layups to put the Razorbacks up 59-58 followed by a dagger 3-pointer as the shot clock expired for a 62-58 lead.
Down three with 6:53 left, Council scored 13 points in a 19-3 run to end the game, which included that 17-0 run and a dunk to provide the 74-61 final score. Jordan Walsh added four points and Kamani Johnson two in the spurt.
In addition to Council, the Razorbacks were led by Makhi Mitchell (14 points, nine rebounds and three blocked shots) and Anthony Black (14 points, eight rebounds and three of the team’s four assists).
The game featured six ties and 11 lead changes. Troy was able to make its average of nine 3-pointers but was just 3-of-14 from deep in the second half. Arkansas did most of its damage at the free throw line, making 17-of-23 compared to 4-of-8 by the Trojans.
Troy was led by Nelson Phillips, who scored 22 points. However, he scored 19 of those points through the first 30 minutes, including a 3-pointer at 9:52 to get the Trojans to within three (54-51). He was held without a basket until making a 3-pointer with 55 seconds left to end the Razorbacks’ 17-0 run.
Arkansas will play game two of the current three-game homestand on Saturday (Dec. 3.) versus San Jose State. Tipoff at Bud Walton Arena is set for 3 pm and the game will be televised on SEC Network.
FIRST HALF: Arkansas: 31 – Troy: 33
• This marked the third straight game Arkansas trailed at halftime.
• Arkansas only led three times: 4-3 and 6-5 and after being down seven led 28-27, after a Ricky Council IV steal and dunk at 3:41.
• Troy was 6-of-14 from 3-point range compared to Arkansas making just 1-of-6.
• Arkansas did draw 10 fouls, committing just six, as the Razorbacks were 8-of-10 at the line compared to 1-of-4 by Troy.
• Makhi Mitchell led Arkansas with 10 first half points (5-of-6 FG) and nine rebounds.
• Nelson Phillips led Troy with 12 first half points.
SECOND HALF: Arkansas: 43 – Troy: 28
• Arkansas only committed five second-half turnovers.
• Anthony Black made a free throw and a 3-pointer before a Ricky Council finger roll to put the Hogs up 51-46 to force a Troy timeout. However, the Trojans came back to take a 56-54 lead with 8:02 left.
• From that point, Arkansas reeled off its 17-0 run and ended the game on a 19-3 run for the
• Council scored 19 of his 27 in the second half.
• Black had seven of his eight rebounds in the second half.
• Arkansas shot 64 percent (16-of-25) in the second half while holding Troy to 36.7% (11-of-30).
GAME NOTES
• Arkansas’ starting lineup was Anthony Black – Barry Dunning Jr. – Ricky Council IV – Jordan Walsh – Makhi Mitchell for the first time this season.
• Troy won the tip. Arkansas is 2-0 this year when opponents control the tip but just 27-14 in the Coach Musselman era.
• Troy’s Nelson Phillips made the game’s first points, a 3-pointer at 19:10. Makhi Mitchell scored the first points for Arkansas at 17:56. In fact, Makhi scored Arkansas’s first six points.
• Arkansas is 2-1 this season when opponents score first and 32-18 in such games in the Musselman era.
• Trevon Brazile was the first Razorback sub for the sixth straight game.
• Arkansas improves to 5-1 versus Troy.
• Arkansas has won 32 straight non-conference games in Bud Walton Arena.
• Arkansas has trailed at the half in the last three games, winning each of the last two.
• Council has only scored 17 points in the first half in the last three games (5.7 avg.) but has scored 48 in the second half over the last three games (16.0 avg.).
• Nick Smith Jr. made his collegiate debut at the 14;)8 mark of the first half. He was on a minute restriction and only played eight minutes (all in the first half).
