Arkansas Opens With 106-61 Win Over Arkansas-Pine Bluff
No. 12 Arkansas beat Arkansas-Pine Bluff 106-61 in Fayetteville on November 3, led by Jeremiah Wilkinson’s 23 points.
Arkansas opened its season with a 106-61 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on November 3 at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville. The Razorbacks held a 47-28 advantage at halftime and pulled away further after the break.
Wilkinson, a transfer from Georgia, finished with 23 points. After UAPB scored first, he helped fuel a 25-0 Arkansas surge with nine points on three-pointers. During the run, the Golden Lions committed eight turnovers and managed only seven shots.
Freshman Jordan Smith Jr. added 20 points, four rebounds and three steals. Abdou Toure scored 12 and Miikka Muurinen had 10, with both making their collegiate debuts. Smith and Muurinen started. Twelve of the 13 Razorbacks who played scored, and Arkansas’ freshmen combined for 65 points.
Arkansas built its early lead with defensive pressure and transition scoring, tallying 20 fast-break points before halftime and 13 points following turnovers. UAPB shot 40% from the floor before halftime. Arkansas finished the game shooting 55% overall and used a 19-2 run in the second half to seal the result.
Free throws remained a concern for the Razorbacks: they made 15 of 23 attempts in the first half, or 65.2%. Jalen Tatum led UAPB with 16 points. The Golden Lions are set to visit Baylor on Friday, while Arkansas will face Virginia in Washington, D.C., on Sunday.