Razorbacks Get Win at Home; Greats To Get Honors

 

Razorbacks Get Win at Home; Beat LSU 81-70

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Playing in front of nearly 30 members from the program’s six Final Four teams and the former President of the United States Bill Clinton, the Arkansas men’s basketball team used a 12-2 run late in the second half and a 10-for-17 performance from three-point land to defeat LSU, 81-70, in front of a crowd of 18,904 on Saturday inside a raucous Bud Walton Arena.

Junior Rashad Madden (@RKMadden00) led the way for the Razorbacks with his fourth 20-point game in SEC play as he combined with senior Coty Clarke (@CTC_4) to score 29 of the Razorbacks’ 44 points in the second half to out-score the Tigers 44-37 in the final frame.

The duo was never more important than during the game-changing 12-2 run that followed a 7-0 LSU spurt. Trailing 57-54 with 10:13 to play, Arkansas’ 12-2 run was finished off by back-to-back three-pointers from Clarke and Madden that resulted in a 66-59 lead with 5:32 remaining.

Over the final five minutes, Madden controlled the pace at the offensive end, as LSU was forced to foul due to facing a three-possession deficit. Madden was the only Razorback to shoot free throws down the stretch, hitting 8-of-10 in the final five minutes to seal a third win in the last four games for the Razorbacks.

Arkansas now stands at 16-9 overall and 5-7 in the SEC, while LSU’s (6-6) SEC record evens at 6-6.

All 16 of Clarke’s points came in the second half after playing just three minutes in the first half due to foul trouble. Freshman Bobby Portis (@BPortisTime) just missed a double-double with 15 points, eight rebounds and four steals. Sophomore Michael Qualls (@Mr_WalkOnAir) rounded out the double figure scorers with 12 of his 13 in the first half.

Worthy Of A Hog Call (#WPS)
There were plenty of Hog Calls all night, as nearly 30 members of the program’s six Final Four teams were recognized at halftime. Former President Bill Clinton was presented a No. 42 jersey by Arkansas’ all-time winningest head coach Nolan Richardson, as both addressed the crowd to finish off the ceremony. The Arkansas Department of Athletics also announced it will hang banners in 2014-15, commemorating Richardson and 1994 Final Four MVP Corliss Williamson’s No. 34 jersey.

Key(s) To The Contest
Led by Madden, Arkansas went 17-of-25 at the free throw line compared to LSU’s 8-of-14 performance. The Razorbacks’ other big advantage came from beyond the arc where it went 10-of-17, while the Tigers knocked down just 25 percent (6-24) from long range.

@RazorbackMBB Quick Hits
➢ Former President Bill Clinton sat courtside in the second half and was flanked by coach Nolan
Richardson, coach Eddie Sutton and Arkansas Director of Athletics Jeff Long.
➢ Arkansas snapped a four-game losing streak against LSU.
➢ Arkansas leads the all-time series with LSU, 32-26.
➢ The Razorbacks are now 13-2 at Bud Walton Arena this season.
➢ Seventh time this season Arkansas has made double figure threes and the second time in the last
three games.
➢ Madden has now led Arkansas in scoring in eight of 12 SEC contests.
➢ Madden scored 12 of his 21 points at the free throw line, going 12-of-14.
➢ Madden has now reached double figures in 19 of the last 22 games.
➢ Madden has led Arkansas in assists five straight contests.
➢ Clarke went 3-for-4 from three and is now 21-for-41 all-time in SEC play.
➢ Clarke has reached double figures in three straight games, his longest streak of the season.
➢ Clarke added a team-high nine rebounds and four assists, stopping Portis’ six-game streak of
leading the way on the glass.
➢ Portis’ double-digit outing was his 18th of the year and eighth in SEC play.
➢ Portis has made a three-pointer in three of his last four games.

Coach Anderson Postgame Sound
“Today was special. All those Arkansas legends and President Clinton under one roof. That’s a special deal. I think our guys played a great game and are starting to click. In the second half we moved the basketball and showed signs of the team we need to become on the offensive end.”

#Fastest40 Facts
➢ Arkansas won the turnover battle for the 28th time in its last 29 games, including 24 of 25 this
season.
➢ Razorbacks have now won the turnover battle 77 times in 89 games under coach Anderson.
➢ The Razorbacks forced LSU into 17 turnovers compared to just 13 assists.
➢ Arkansas’ 17 assists were its second-most in SEC play.
➢ Razorbacks finished with a positive assist/turnover ratio for the 22nd time in 25 games, while their
opponent has done so just four times.

Up Next
@RazorbackMBB will closeout its two-game homestand on Wednesday when it hosts South Carolina (10-15, 3-9) at 8 p.m. on Comcast Sports Southeast.

During halftime it was announced that the University of Arkansas will honor five former student-athletes and coaches during the 2014-15 season by hanging their jerseys or a banner in their honor at Bud Walton Arena.

Part of Razorback Athletics’ on-going initiative to honor its basketball programs’ history, Arkansas unveiled that a banner commemorating former head coach Nolan Richardson and the jersey of two-time All-American Corliss Williamson will be the first two additions.

Razorback Athletics also will relocate previously honored jerseys, including men’s basketball great Sidney Moncrief’s No. 32 jersey and women’s basketball legends Bettye Fiscus (No. 5) and Delmonica DeHorney (No. 50). The jerseys were previously displayed in Barnhill Arena, but will now be moved to Bud Walton Arena. There are currently no banners or jerseys in Bud Walton Arena commemorating former coaches or student-athletes.

“We are pleased to introduce a program to formally recognize legendary men’s and women’s basketball student-athletes and coaches from the University of Arkansas,” Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Jeff Long. “Next season, we will recognize the careers of five former Razorbacks who have made significant contributions to our program. We look forward to honoring these outstanding individuals and celebrating the great tradition of Razorback Basketball.”

Individual ceremonies for each of the five honorees will be held during the 2014-15 season.  Specific dates will be announced when the game schedule for both the men’s and women’s teams are completed at the end of the summer.
Long made the announcement after the six men’s basketball Final Four teams were introduced to the sold-out crowd at Bud Walton Arena with Richardson, Moncrief and Williamson among those in attendance.

Head Coach Nolan Richardson (1986-2002)
• Guided Arkansas to three Final Fours (1990, 1994, 1995), highlighted by the National Championship in 1994.
• Named the NABC National Coach of the Year in 1994.
• Went to 13 NCAA Tournaments over 17 seasons, including a run of nine straight appearances from 1987-1996 in which Arkansas went to the Sweet Sixteen six times and compiled a record of 24-8.
• Arkansas’ all-time winningest coach with 390 victories.
• Inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008.

#32 Sidney Moncrief (1975-79)
• Finished as the program’s all-time leading scorer (2,086) and is now second, but still holds the record for rebounds (1,015).
• Named an Associated Press All-American three times, the most in program history.
• Three-time All-Southwest Conference selection.
• Named an SEC Legend in 1999 and is a member of the Arkansas Sports Hall Of Fame.
• First player in program history to have his jersey retired.

#34 Corliss Williamson (1992-95)
• MVP of the 2004 Final Four and two-time Final Four All-Tournament team member.
• Two-Time SEC Player of the Year and two-time AP All-American.
• Ranks eighth all-time with 1,728 points and 10th with 647 rebounds, both figures are second-best among three-year players in program history.
• Scored 1,465 points over the run to back-to-back Final Fours which is the second-best two-year total by a Razorback.
• Named an SEC Legend and to the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in 2009.

#5 Bettye Fiscus (1982-85)
• Program leading scorer with 2,073 points.
• First player in program history to score 1,000 points and the only one to reach the 2,000-point plateau.
• First player in program history to have her jersey retired.
• Still holds program career records for points, field goals made (794), free throws made (485) and scoring average (18.5).
• Member of the Arkansas Hall of Honor and named an SEC Great in 2006.

#50 Delmonica DeHorney (1988-91)

• Named a Kodak All-American in 1990.
• A two-time Southwest Conference Player of the Year and the league’s Newcomer of the Year.
• Still holds program records for field goal percentage (.609), free throw attempts (648) and blocks (235).
• Led Arkansas in scoring in record-setting win over Texas that snapped a 183-game SWC win streak for the Longhorns and led to a conference title.
• Member of the Arkansas Hall of Honor.

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