Mason Jones scored 19 points as Arkansas improved to 3-0 for the second time in three seasons with a 64-46 victory over visiting Montana on Saturday in Fayetteville, Ark.

Jimmy Whitt Jr. had 14 points and Ardio Bailey added 12 with 11 rebounds for Arkansas, which shot only 37 percent, but played good enough defense to hold the Grizzlies (1-2) to 2 of 16 from 3-point range and force 23 turnovers. The Razorbacks prevailed despite nine points on 2-of-13 shooting from star guard Isaiah Joe, who totaled 40 while going 15 of 27 from the floor in the first two contests.

Jones did not shoot much better, going 5 of 13, but has averaged 23 points through the first three games.

Sayeed Pridgett had 13 points for Montana, one of the nation's better mid-major programs out of the Big Sky. However, the Grizzlies never seem to get going and their overall cold shooting for the game was the main reason they remain winless against the SEC.

Neither team was particularly solid during a first half that lacked much overall flow and pace. The Razorbacks shot just 35.7 percent, including 3 of 13 from 3-point range, but took advantage of some worse shooting by Montana to use a 14-2 run over a five-plus-minute stretch late in the half to lead 31-18 at the break.

Bailey had a pair of dunks while scoring seven points during that Arkansas run. It helped that the Razorbacks held the Grizzlies to 8-of-31 shooting over the first 20 minutes, and no points off their six chances from beyond the arc.

The poor shooting for both sides continued at the start of the second half. However, Montana used a 9-2 run and its first made 3 of the game from Kendal Manuel to get within 40-33 with 11:30 left in the half. Arkansas, though, followed with a 7-0 run, highlighted by Joe's 3-pointer that made it 47-33 with 9:22 left in regulation.

--Field Level Media