MBB Preview: Arkansas Hosts #10 Auburn

Who: Arkansas Razorbacks (16-5. 4-4 SEC) vs #10/11 Auburn Tigers (19-2, 6-2 SEC)
What: Razorbacks host Auburn before hitting the road for two straight
When: Tuesday – Feb. 4 – 6:00 pm
Where: Fayetteville, Ark. – Bud Walton Arena
How (to follow):
– TV: SEC Network (Tom Hart and Andy Kennedy)
^ CLICK HERE to Watch ESPN/SEC Network Online
– Radio: Learfield IMG College Razorback Sports Network (Chuck Barrett and Matt Zimmerman)
^ Listen to Razorback Sports Network Online: CLICK HERE
– Sirius/XM: XM Channel 382, Streaming Online on channel 972
– Live Stats: www.Arkansas.Statbroadcast.com
– In Person: CLICK HERE to purchase tickets

– Arkansas Game Notes: CLICK HERE
– Fan Game Day Information: CLICK HERE

Versus Auburn

• This will be the 54th meeting between Arkansas and Auburn. The Razorbacks own a 34-19 advantage in the series, including a 34-18 cushion in games since Arkansas joined the SEC.
• Arkansas has won 10 of the last 13 in the series, although the teams have each won three of the last six. The last time Auburn came to Bud Walton Arena, the Tigers were ranked 14th but fell 91-82 as Jaylen Barford (20 &10) and Daniel Gafford (21 & 10) each had double-doubles.
  LAST YEAR AT AUBURN:
• Bryce Brown scored 18 points and contributed five 3-pointers to Auburn’s long-range barrage in a 79-56 win over Arkansas.
• The Tigers made 5-of-their-first-6 from 3-point range and took a 22-1 lead to start the game. On the other end, Arkansas missed its first eight shots from the field until the 12:57 mark. Auburn ultimately built a 30-point lead and took a 45-20 lead into the locker room at halftime.
• Arkansas shuffled the lineup and showed some fight in the second half, out-scoring the Tigers 36-34, and committing just four turnovers while going 12-of-18 at the free throw line. Desi Sills led the change with nine points in the half.
• Overall, Auburn made 17-of-33 3-pointers while the Razorbacks were just 4-of-26.
• Brown made 5-of-8 3’s to lead four Auburn scorers in double figures. Anfernee McLemore scored 13 points while Chuma Okeke had 11 points and five assists. Jared Harper scored 10.
• Arkansas’ Isaiah Joe scored 14 points and Daniel Gafford had 10.

Jones is SEC Scoring Leader
• Mason Jones scored an SEC career-high 34 points — and added a career-high 12 rebounds — versus South Carolina to push him to the top of the SEC scoring list. He added 30 at Alabama to push his average to 19.8.
• Among the NCAA’s top-six, RPI-rated conferences (Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac 12, SEC and ACC), Jones ranks fourth nationally in scoring:
^ Markus Howard (Marquette) 1st in the NCAA / 27.9 ppg
^ Luka Garza (Iowa) 4th in the NCAA / 23.0 ppg
^ Myles Powell (Seton Hall)          10th in the NCAA / 21.4 ppg
^ Mason Jones (Arkansas)            30th in the NCAA / 19.8 ppg
• Arkansas has never had a player lead the SEC in scoring at season’s end.
•  Jones is THE ONLY PLAYER IN THE SEC to lead his team in scoring, rebounding, assists and steals. In fact, he is THE ONLY PLAYER IN THE SEC to rank among the top 20 in scoring (1st) and rebounds (15th) while ranking among the top 11 in steals (5th) and assists (11th).

Jones Earns 3rd SEC Player of the Week Honor

• Mason Jones had a pair of 30-point games and was rewarded for a third time by being named the SEC Men’s Basketball co-Player of the Week, the league announced today. Jones shared the honor with Mississippi State’s Reggie Perry.
• For the week, Jones averaged 32 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.5 steals against South Carolina and Alabama.
• Jones is the only three-time SEC Men’s Basketball Player of the Week honoree this season.

Nothing But NET

• Arkansas is 1-of-4 SEC teams and 1-of-10 teams nationally who have played two or fewer games against teams ranked above 200 in the NET.
  ^ Other SEC teams include Mississippi State, Alabama and Florida.
  ^ Others nationally including West Virginia, California, Duke, Georgia Tech, Minnesota and Oregon.
  ^ West Virginia has played only one game versus a team with a 200-plus NET ranking.

Taking Care of the Ball in SEC Play

• Since SEC play began, Arkansas has taken care of the ball and shared the ball better than the non-conference season. In league play, the Hogs have 88 assists, a league-high 59 steals, a league-low 77 turnovers and a league-high 120 turnovers forced.
• In SEC play, Arkansas leads the league in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.1).
• In SEC play, Arkansas is the only team to average single-digit turnovers (9.6/gm) while forcing the most turnovers (15.0/gm).
• In SEC play, Arkansas leads the league in turnover margin (+5.4). The next closest is Florida at +1.4.

For more information on Arkansas Men’s Basketball, follow @RazorbackMBB on Twitter.