Arkansas basketball can't withstand Vanderbilt's second-half burst, Razorbacks fall on road
No. 16 Arkansas basketball and Vanderbilt have played 53 times in their history, but it's scarcely a matchup that can be called a rivalry. On Saturday, however, things got heated enough to spark one.
There were five technical fouls assessed in the first half. Three of them came on a particularly wild sequence in the final minute, which resulted in seven free throws for Arkansas. The Razorbacks went to the locker room with an 8-point lead, and it looked like the free throws might turn the game's tide.
But Vanderbilt came out of halftime with a vengeance. The Commodores (9-8, 2-2 SEC) shot 69% from the field and 67% from beyond the arc in the second half on their way to 63 points.
Arkansas (12-5, 1-4) lost its third straight game, 97-84, at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville.
"We've lost three state straight games by double digits," coach Eric Musselman said. "I don't recall a team that we've coached doing that. ... Disappointed with the competitiveness, disappointed with, when a team makes a run, combating that run. But again, we have a group of guys that's learning, and we're trying to learn as well.”
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Chippy first half
It started with a double technical against Arkansas' Kamani Johnson and Vanderbilt's Jordan Wright after a chippy exchanging of words after a play. Johnson was hit with a Flagrant 1, which means it did not result in an automatic ejection.
The other three technicals came on one wild sequence late in the half. Arkansas guard Anthony Black made a layup and drew a foul from Quentin Millora-Brown. Millora-Brown was on the ground, and Black stepped to stand over him. Vanderbilt's Ezra Manjon then pushed Black from behind.
Manjon was assessed two technical fouls on the play and was ejected. Vanderbilt coach Jerry Stackhouse was hit with a technical for his reaction to Manjon's ejection. Black received no penalty.
Arkansas was given seven free throws: two for each technical, plus the common foul against Millora-Brown on Black's layup. The Razorbacks made 5-of-7 to take a 10-point lead.
Arkansas' offense improves, defense falls off
Arkansas' offense had been struggling, with Musselman calling the Razorbacks "offensively challenged" after their last loss. Against Vanderbilt, Arkansas shot 49% from the field, their best percentage in SEC play so far. Its seven made 3-pointers were its most in conference play, too.
But the Razorback defense, which has been Arkansas' strength for much of the season, couldn't bolster the improved offense. The Razorbacks forced just nine turnovers, limiting the transition offense on which they often rely.
Arkansas held Vanderbilt under 37% from the field in the first half. But the Commodores experienced a dramatic offensive turnaround in the second half, shooting 69% from the field.
The Commodores' 3-point shooting was especially damning. They went 6-for-9 in the second half alone, led by Trey Thomas going 3-for-4.
Vanderbilt's 97 total points were a season high for the Commodores and the most Arkansas has allowed this season.
"I've coached a lot of games and can't remember a defensive team giving up 63 points in a half," Musselman said. "For much of the season, offensive struggles (have) been the problem. Tonight, certainly, defensively was a major, major issue."
Christina Long covers the Arkansas Razorbacks for the Southwest Times Record and USA Today Network. You can follow her on Twitter @christinalong00 or email her at clong@swtimes.com.
This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Arkansas basketball drops chippy, technical-filled game at Vanderbilt
