Arkansas Razorbacks Too Deep for Kentucky

 

Behind forwards Marshawn Powell and Coty Clarke, the Arkansas Razorbacks easily handled Kentucky Wildcats in Bud Walton Arena Saturday, 73-60.

Powell finished with 15 points and nine rebounds, while Clarke came up just short of a triple double with 14 points, 12 rebounds and six assists.

The Hogs only shot 30.8 percent compared to Kentucky’s 45.8 percent in the first half, but took 15 more shots than the Wildcats because of their significant advantage of creating turnovers. Arkansas went into the locker room holding a 32-29 margin.

Clarke had arguably his best game of the season against the talented Kentucky big men Willie Cauley-Stein and Alex Poythress. Clarke had six offensive rebounds, many of which led to easy put back baskets.

“He’s starting to impose his will on opponents, he’s a good ball player that can do so many things,” head coach Mike Anderson said.

Powell had a hard time getting anything to fall in the first half, shooting 3-10 from the field despite creating good looks. He heated up early in the second, making a corner three followed by a three point play finished at the freethrow line that extended the Hogs’ lead to nine.

Arkansas’ bench play was a difference maker later in the game of Kentucky’s lack of depth. The Hogs’ Kikko Haydar and Rashad Madden were able to make big impacts in the second half coming off the bench. Madden tied his SEC scoring high with eight points in 24 minutes played, also contributing seven rebounds. Haydar finished with eight points in 18 minutes played.

Kentucky’s youth, inexperience and lack of depth were on full display at Bud Walton Arena. The Hogs forced 18 turnovers and were able to score 30 points off Kentucky’s miscues. Arkansas overwhelmingly outscored Kentucky in points off turnovers, 30-2.

“We weren’t as tough as them and we didn’t play as hard as them, and they they deserved to win the game,” said Kentucky head coach John Calipari.

Freshmen Cauley-Stein and Archie Goodwin both scored in double figures, but also combined for eight turnovers. Despite finishing with 10 rebounds and 13 points, the 7-foot Cauley-Stein was routinely beat on the boards by the undersized Arkansas forwards Powell and Clarke. The Hogs outrebounded Kentucky 44-37, and had 20 offensive rebounds.

“We knew we had to box them out and crash the boards whenever we can, and it worked out for us,” Powell said.

The Little Rock, Ark. native Goodwin had a solid game, finishing with 14 points and five rebounds despite hearing boos from the hostile Bud Walton crowd every time he touched the ball. Goodwin claimed that he’s “not from here” and it would be different if he was from Fayetteville, but he’s from Little Rock where everyone loves him still.

“It wasn’t something that I let affect me, I just had to block it out and focus on what we had to do,” Goodwin said.

Arkansas (18-11, 9-7 SEC) next faces a tough road test at Missouri Tuesday as the Hogs continue to push for a postseason appearance.

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