Razorback move to 3-0, get first win in Italy, during European trip
Arkansas’ European basketball trip is built to gel the team more than anything. But Saturday’s 75-54 win over Orange 1 Basket Bassano showed plenty of positive signs to could carry over to the season.
Arkansas outscored Bassano by 16 in the third quarter to provide a 26-point lead heading into the final frame.
“The five guys out there to start the third quarter, quite frankly, as they left the locker room I told the staff, ‘Watch what happens to the score,’” Arkansas coach Eric Musselman said. “It was zero shock what that group went out and did.”
Arkansas’ only two returners – guard Devo Davis and forward Kamani Johnson – were joined by transfer forward Trevon Brazile and freshman guards Anthony Black and Nick Smith Jr. They had a 16-0 run late in the quarter to provide the biggest boost.
“They did a phenomenal job — thinking that it’s only three games in — of sharing it and running different things for each other,” Musselman.
Smith had 20 points on 8 of 14 shooting to lead the team. Davis did his usual stat-stuffing job, scoring six with five assists, three boards and three steals.
“We still have a long way to go on some things, but much, much improved defensively,” Musselman said. “Our defensive intensity was really good.”
