Arkansas, unranked in the latest Associated Press Top 25 poll, will look to continue improving on defense after winning its SEC/ACC Challenge game against Miami on Tuesday.
Coach John Calipari’s Razorbacks (6-2), No. 19 in last week’s rankings, will host the UTSA Roadrunners on Saturday afternoon in a non-conference matchup in Fayetteville, Ark.
In the 76-73 win against the Hurricanes, Boogie Fland scored seven points on a pair of free throws, a 3-pointer and a jumper in the final 2:25 to rally the squad.
That got Arkansas back on track after being handled 90-77 by Illinois on Thanksgiving Day. The outcome propelled the Fighting Illini into the Top 25 and the Razorbacks out.
Against host Miami, Arkansas was 11-of-23 shooting from long range (47.8 percent). Holding the Atlantic Coast Conference team to 31 percent (9 of 29) from behind the arc was key, however, especially after a bad showing against Illinois.
“We gave up some, but not like we did (against Illinois). Last game was four corner threes,” Calipari said. “We’re a little more sound. But even when you’re sound, if a team’s willing to take 30 threes, there’s a chance they can make 15. There’s also a chance they can make four, and then they lose.”
Adou Thiero leads Arkansas with 17.6 points per game, followed by Fland (16.1) and Zvonimir Ivisic (12). Thiero also is the leading rebounder on the team (5.6 per game), while Fland is tops with five assists per game.
In their game Tuesday against Saint Mary’s (Calif.), the Roadrunners (3-4) saw a pair of guards pile up minutes and points before ultimately losing 82-74 in overtime to the Gaels.
Primo Spears poured in a game-best 24 points in 40 minutes, while backcourt mate Marcus Millender netted 21 in a team-high 42 minutes.
The team’s leading scorer at 23.7 points per game, Spears has shouldered the offensive burden ahead of Millender (12.3) and Damari Monsanto (10.3). Jonnivius Smith is pulling down a team-high 9.7 rebounds per game. Spears averages a team-best 3.9 assists.
Spears averaged a career-low 10.6 per game for Florida State last season, but coach Austin Claunch said the senior brings more than points to the Roadrunners.
“I think his leadership (outweighs) anything he’s done for us statistically at this standpoint,” Claunch said earlier. “I want him to continue to embrace that and grow in his role. … It’s encouraging for a new coach with a new program and 13 new guys.”
A 6-foot-3 product from Hartford, Conn., Spears is at his fourth school in four seasons, starting at Duquesne before transferring to Georgetown and the Seminoles.
–Field Level Media
