Humor

Razorbacks Get Offensive in Win

Date: 2011-12-01T05:03:57.513
Author: Jimmy Carter
Editor note: Arkansas sophomore guard Mardracus Wade hit four 3-pointers and scored a career-high 20 points in the Razorbacks 97-64 win against Mississippi Valley State in front of an estimated 6,700 fans Wednesday at Bud Walton Arena.
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Everyone was hitting from 3-point range for Arkansas on Wednesday night.

The Razorbacks hit a season-high 11 3-pointers in a 97-64 blowout of Mississippi Valley State in Bud Walton Arena.

The Hogs shot a season 59 percent from the field in their third consecutive win.

“We were taking good shots and we were hitting them,” Arkansas junior guard Julysses Nobles said. “As we kept hitting them, we kept shooting them. They were falling, so it got us going early.”

Six different players hit 3-pointers, including some unlikely shooters.

Sophomore guard Rickey Scott made his first 3-pointer of the season after entering the game 0 of 11.

“Good to see Rickey get his confidence back,” Nobles said. “You’re 0 for 11, your confidence gets down, but if you hit one it brings it back up. He’ll be all right.”

Senior forward Michael Sanchez made his first career 3-pointer in just his third career attempt.

“That’s something he won’t be specializing in,” Arkansas coach Mike Anderson said.

Sophomore guard Mardracus Wade led all scorers with a career-high 20 points while hitting 4 of 6 from 3-point range.

“I’ve been working all summer, all year, on my shot,” Wade said. “Trying to stay after practice each and every day. Come in before practice … Coach (Anderson) said he’s tired of me pump-faking so much. He said, ‘Just take the shot.’

“They put a lot on me, but I think I can handle the pressure they put on me to shoot the ball. I’ve just got to try to deliver for my team.”

The Hogs led by 17 at halftime and increased the lead to 20 in the first four minutes of the second half. The Delta Devils never pulled closer than 16 the rest of the game and Arkansas stretched the lead to 34 in the half.

Mississippi Valley State had just 15 turnovers, but shot just 32 percent from the field, the third consecutive game the Hogs have held their opponent to less than 35 percent shooting.

“I thought our pressure was great tonight,” Anderson said. “It was cumulative. It affected them on their shots. Their shots were a lot shorter at the end. Pressure is not all about forcing turnovers.

The first half was filled with runs.

The Razorbacks took an 18-3 lead in the first five minutes after hitting four of its first five 3-point attempts.

The Delta Devils used a 14-2 run to pull within three points, but the Hogs scored the next 11 points to take a 31-17 lead.

Arkansas hit 8 of 12 from 3-point range in the first half and stretched the lead to 47-30 at the break.

“Any game is going to be a game of runs,” Anderson said. “I thought that run right after they cut the lead. It was big. It started right after we made a layup and our defense really picked up.”

Nobles added 16 points for the Razorbacks, knocking down 3 of 5 from 3-point range.

Freshman forward Devonta Abron scored a career-high 13 points, while sophomore guard Rickey Scott chipped in 11. Freshman guard BJ Young scored 11 points, his fifth consecutive game scoring in double figures.

The Hogs had 16 assists on their 31 made field goals.

“(Coach Anderson) told us stop trying to make all the home run plays,” Wade said. “Make the single plays. Hit the first wide-open guy. Make good crisp passes to the easy open guy.”

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