National Basketball Association
Arkansas 78, Southern Methodist 72
When: 7:30 PM ET, Tuesday, November 25, 2014
Where: Moody Coliseum, Abilene, Texas
Officials:
# John Higgings, # Byron Jarrett, # Kipp Kissinger
Attendance:
7086
By SportsDirect Inc.
Arkansas 78, SMU 72: Bobby Portis led the way with 22 points as the visiting Razorbacks held off the Mustangs in a battle of former Southwest Conference rivals.
Michael Qualls had 13 points, five rebounds and four assists for Arkansas (4-0), which failed to reach 80 points for the first time this season. Jacorey Williams added nine points and five boards off the bench for the Razorbacks.
Yanick Moreira recorded his first double-double of the season with season highs of 20 points and 10 rebounds for SMU (2-3), which drew within five points in the final minute before falling short. Keith Frazier added 16 points and seven boards and Ryan Manuel scored 13 points off the bench for the Mustangs.
Portis had a 3-pointer and a layup as Arkansas sprinted out to an 11-2 lead in the first four minutes. The Razorbacks ended the first half with a 12-5 burst to take a 33-22 lead into the break and were ahead 50-31 after Beard’s jumper with 13 1/2 minutes remaining.
Frazier scored eight points – including a four-point play – during a 14-2 spurt to chop it to 52-45 with just under 11 minutes left, and Moreira’s layup cut the deficit to six points with under nine minutes to play. Portis’ jumper stretched it back to 68-55 with 4 1/2 minutes to play and Arkansas held off a late charge.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The Mustangs lost for just the second time in their last 23 home games. … Arkansas forced 19 turnovers (16 in the first half), marking the first time this season they have failed to force at least 20. … SMU G Nic Moore went 1-of-6 from the field but hit all eight of his free-throw attempts and handed out six assists.
Top Game Performances
Arkansas |
|
Southern Methodist |
Bobby Portis 22 |
Scoring |
Yanick Moreira 20 |
Rashad Madden 5 |
Assists |
Nic Moore 6 |
Bobby Portis 5 |
Rebounds |
Yanick Moreira 10 |
Rashad Madden 7 |
Free Throws Made |
Nic Moore 8 |
Alandise Harris 3 |
Steals |
Sterling Brown 1 |
Moses Kingsley 1 |
Blocks |
Cannen Cunningham 1 |
Team Stats Summary
Team |
Points |
FG% |
3PM-3PA |
FTM-FTA |
Assists |
Rebounds |
Blocks |
Steals |
Turnovers |
Arkansas
|
78 |
45.3 |
6-15 |
24-33 |
16 |
27 |
1 |
10 |
13 |
Southern Methodist
|
72 |
45.8 |
2-9 |
26-37 |
16 |
31 |
1 |
6 |
19 |