Arkansas 69, Lipscomb 66: Hogs hang on in wild finish
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In the end, it was Devo who saved the day.
Devo Davis that is. The Arkansas senior guard hit a driving layup with :26 seconds remaining as the Razorbacks hung on to beat Lipscomb, 69-66, at Simmons Bank Arena in downtown North Little Rock
Davis, who starred at Jackasonville Jacksonville High School, and got enthusiastic roars from the sellout crowd of 16,361 when he was introduced and then again when he hit the game winning basket. The senior guard, who was playing his last game in central Arkansas, finished with four points in 24 minutes played.
All photos by Jaison Sterling
It never should have come to Davis’s heroics though as Arkansas had the game in hand midway through the second half, and were up 59-39, with 11:59 remaining against a plucky Lipscomb team out of Nashville, Tennessee. It could have been a real yelp of a game as the Bison missed a desperation three-pointer as time expired that hit the rim but bounced out. If it had gone in, it would have tied the game.
Arkansas, now 7-4 on the year, was back and forth in the first few minutes as Lipscomb (7-6) took the early lead, but then the Razorbacks went ahead with with 17:30 remaining in the first half and never trailed again.
“It ended up being a close game,” Arkansas coach Eric Musselman said in the post-game press conference. “We got to play better in so many areas. We’ll keep coaching and hopefully get some execution on the floor.”
Tramon Mark led Arkansas, and all scorers, with 17 points, while Makhi Mitchell had 12 and Jalen Graham finished with 11 for the Razorbacks in double figures.
Mark was the lone Razorback player in the postgame presser as most of the rest of the team was busy signing autographs and taking selfies with fans after the game was over.
“We could have definitely been better,” Mark said, but, he added, “I’m confident in my guys.”
The start of the game was delayed for about 15 minutes as the lights at the arena wouldn’t come back on after the player introductions. The game was being broadcast on the SEC Network+ and hard to televise a game in the dark.
“We’re used to the bright lights,” Mark said after. “It was so dim. It was like playing in the driveway.”
Arkansas hosts Abilene Christian on Thursday, Dec. 21 at Bud Walton Arena, then a break for Christmas holiday. The Razorbacks return to action after that on Saturday, Dec. 30 against North Carolina-Wilmington. Then another break for the New Year’s holiday and the start of SEC action is on Jan. 6 at home against Auburn.
Lipcomb hosts Bryan next Wednesday.
Arkansas 68, Samford 54
In the earlier game on Saturday, Arkansas cruised past Samford, 68-54, in front of 2,513 fans.
Guard Samara Spencer with 20 points lead Arkansas in the win.
The team is now 9-3 on the year and are off to West Palm Beach, Florida next week for the West Palm Beach Classic.
The Razorbacks will face Illinois on Wednesday and Illinois-Chicago on Thursday, Dec. 21.
Every sportswriter starts writing early, even those with not terribly pressing deadlines, when the game looks done. When game like tonight happen, those pre-writes usually don’t see the light of day. But, for a little peek behind the curtain, the pre-write is below with XXs for the score and everything.
Arkansas XX, Lipscomb XX
Headline goes here
Simmons Bank Arena was loud and the atmosphere was festive Saturday night in downtown North Little Rock.
And why shouldn’t it be? It is just a week away from Christmas and the Arkansas Razorbacks basketball team was in town to play Lipscomb.
As for the game, Arkansas took care of business and beat the visiting Bison, XX-XX, in a non-conference game that was televised on the SEC Network+.
Arkansas improved to 7-4 on the year with the win.
The crowd was a sellout. Some 16,361 screaming Razorbacks fans. Some of whom got giveaway Santa hats emblazoned with the Everett Buck GMC logo.
Besides the hats, the fans got what they wanted. An easy Arkansas win that saw the Hogs up 41-33 at the half and maintain a double figure lead through the end of the game.
Record scratch and for what really happened, see above
Arkansas 69, Lipscomb 66: Hogs hang on in wild finish
Arkansas 69, Lipscomb 66: Hogs hang on in wild finish
Arkansas 69, Lipscomb 66: Hogs hang on in wild finish
In the end, it was Devo who saved the day.
Devo Davis that is. The Arkansas senior guard hit a driving layup with :26 seconds remaining as the Razorbacks hung on to beat Lipscomb, 69-66, at Simmons Bank Arena in downtown North Little Rock
Davis, who starred at
JackasonvilleJacksonville High School, and got enthusiastic roars from the sellout crowd of 16,361 when he was introduced and then again when he hit the game winning basket. The senior guard, who was playing his last game in central Arkansas, finished with four points in 24 minutes played.It never should have come to Davis’s heroics though as Arkansas had the game in hand midway through the second half, and were up 59-39, with 11:59 remaining against a plucky Lipscomb team out of Nashville, Tennessee. It could have been a real yelp of a game as the Bison missed a desperation three-pointer as time expired that hit the rim but bounced out. If it had gone in, it would have tied the game.
Arkansas, now 7-4 on the year, was back and forth in the first few minutes as Lipscomb (7-6) took the early lead, but then the Razorbacks went ahead with with 17:30 remaining in the first half and never trailed again.
“It ended up being a close game,” Arkansas coach Eric Musselman said in the post-game press conference. “We got to play better in so many areas. We’ll keep coaching and hopefully get some execution on the floor.”
Tramon Mark led Arkansas, and all scorers, with 17 points, while Makhi Mitchell had 12 and Jalen Graham finished with 11 for the Razorbacks in double figures.
Mark was the lone Razorback player in the postgame presser as most of the rest of the team was busy signing autographs and taking selfies with fans after the game was over.
“We could have definitely been better,” Mark said, but, he added, “I’m confident in my guys.”
The start of the game was delayed for about 15 minutes as the lights at the arena wouldn’t come back on after the player introductions. The game was being broadcast on the SEC Network+ and hard to televise a game in the dark.
“We’re used to the bright lights,” Mark said after. “It was so dim. It was like playing in the driveway.”
Arkansas hosts Abilene Christian on Thursday, Dec. 21 at Bud Walton Arena, then a break for Christmas holiday. The Razorbacks return to action after that on Saturday, Dec. 30 against North Carolina-Wilmington. Then another break for the New Year’s holiday and the start of SEC action is on Jan. 6 at home against Auburn.
Lipcomb hosts Bryan next Wednesday.
Arkansas 68, Samford 54
In the earlier game on Saturday, Arkansas cruised past Samford, 68-54, in front of 2,513 fans.
Guard Samara Spencer with 20 points lead Arkansas in the win.
The team is now 9-3 on the year and are off to West Palm Beach, Florida next week for the West Palm Beach Classic.
The Razorbacks will face Illinois on Wednesday and Illinois-Chicago on Thursday, Dec. 21.
Every sportswriter starts writing early, even those with not terribly pressing deadlines, when the game looks done. When game like tonight happen, those pre-writes usually don’t see the light of day. But, for a little peek behind the curtain, the pre-write is below with XXs for the score and everything.
Arkansas XX,
Lipscomb XX
Headline goes here
Simmons Bank Arena was loud and the atmosphere was festive Saturday night in downtown North Little Rock.
And why shouldn’t it be? It is just a week away from Christmas and the Arkansas Razorbacks basketball team was in town to play Lipscomb.
As for the game, Arkansas took care of business and beat the visiting Bison, XX-XX, in a non-conference game that was televised on the SEC Network+.
Arkansas improved to 7-4 on the year with the win.
The crowd was a sellout. Some 16,361 screaming Razorbacks fans. Some of whom got giveaway Santa hats emblazoned with the Everett Buck GMC logo.
Besides the hats, the fans got what they wanted. An easy Arkansas win that saw the Hogs up 41-33 at the half and maintain a double figure lead through the end of the game.
Record scratch and for what really happened, see above