Bulldogs Top Razorbacks

ATHENS, Ga. – Mason Jones, Isaiah Joe and Desi Sills each scored over 20 points, but Arkansas could not overcome a 14-0 start by Georgia as the Bulldogs pulled away late for a 99-89 victory Saturday evening at Stegeman Coliseum.

Arkansas worked its deficit to eight at halftime and came out quick to start the second half. However, Georgia regained the momentum and led by 11 with 10:52 left.

Jones led a rally, accounting for 12 points (scored eight and dished out two assists), to get the Hogs to within one (73-72). The Hogs were also down one after two free throws by Jalen Harris (83-82) with 2:45 remaining and two free throws by Joe (85-84) at the 2:12 mark but could not get over the hump.

After Joe’s free throws, Rayshaun Hammonds made a layup to give him 22 points on the night and give the Dawgs a 3-point lead. From that point, Anthony Edwards, who scored 26 to lead the Bulldogs, took over. The freshman accounted for 13 points inside the final 1:35, assisting on back-to-back baskets and scoring nine points for a 12-point lead.

Jones and Joe each scored 26 in the loss and Sills pumped in a career-high 21 points with six rebounds. The last time three Razorbacks scored 20-plus in the same game was a 96-82 loss to Ole Miss on Jan. 17, 2015 when Bobby Portis scored 23, Rashad Madden scored 22 and Michael Qualls scored 22.

Arkansas returns home to host LSU on Wednesday (Mar. 4) for Senior Day. Tipoff is set for 6:00 pm.

FIRST HALF: Arkansas 39 – Georgia 47

• Georgia raced out to a 9-0 lead to force a Razorback timeout at 17:02. The Bulldogs pushed the lead to 14-0 to force a second Arkansas timeout at 16:04.
• Jalen Harris got Arkansas on the board with a 3-pointer at 15:52. Desi Sills followed with back-to-back triples.
• Sills came off the bench made 4-of-5 shots (3-of-3 from 3-point range) and scored 11 points in eight minutes and Georgia led 29-18 at the 9:24 mark.
• Georgia used a 7-0 run to push its lead to 18 (36-18) with 7:32 left in the first half.
• Arkansas cut its deficit to eight after four straight free throws by Isaiah Joe (41-33 at 1:47).
• Isaiah Joe drained a 3-pointer with 3.3 seconds left to get Arkansas to within eight (47-39).
• Isaiah Joe and Desi Sills each scored 14 points to lead Arkansas.
• Rayshaun Hammonds led all scorers with 17 points.
• Georgia shot 55.9 percent from the field, compared to Arkansas 36.7 percent.

 

SECOND HALF: Arkansas got to within one three times.

• Mason scored on the first possession to open the second half and drained a 3-pointer on the second to cut the deficit to three (47-44).
• Georgia regained a double-digit lead (71-60) with 10:25 left. However, Arkansas’ next 12 points were thanks to eight points and two assists from Mason Jones to make it a one-point game (73-72) with 6;28 remaining.
• Arkansas got to within one (83-82) after two free throws by Jalen Harris (2:45) and within one (85-84) after two free throws by Joe.

GAME NOTES

• Arkansas’ starting lineup was Jimmy Whitt (G) – Isaiah Joe (G) – Mason Jones (G) – Ethan Henderson (F) – Adrio Bailey (F) for the second straight game.
• Georgia won the tip for the 15th time in 29 games this season. Arkansas is 7-8 in such games.
• Rayshaun Hammonds scored the first points of the game, a jumper in the lane at 19:42. Jalen Harris scored the Razorbacks’ first points, a 3-pointer at 15:52.
• Arkansas allowed 47 first half points. That ties for the most in any half by an opponent this season (47 at Mississippi State in the second half). The previous most in the first half was 40 at Tennessee and vs Mississippi State.
• Arkansas leads the NCAA in 3-point percentage but allowed Georgia to make 10 treys and shoot 43.5% both highs by Arkansas opponents this season.
• Isaiah Joe was 6-of-6 at the free throw line. Since his return to the last (three games), Joe is 22-of-22 at the free throw line and is shooting 87.3% from the line this season.
• Isiah Joe was 4-of-10 from 3-point range. He has made at least three 3-pointers in 36 of his 57 career games.
• Mason Jones was 9-of-9 at the free throw line in scoring 26 points.
  – has made 207 free throws this season, 2nd on the school’s single-season list (five shy of the record).
  – has made 130 free throws in SEC games this season, extending his own record (old mark was 109).
  – has scored 358 points in SEC games this season, 2nd on the school’s single-season list (10 shy of the record).

• Isiah Joe and Mason Jones each scored 20 points in each of the last two games. Earlier this year, they became the first Razorbacks to each score 20-plus in three straight games since 1994-95 (Corliss Williamson and Scotty Thurman).
• Adrio Bailey blocked two shots. He has at least one rejection in 24 of 29 games this season.
• Desi Sills scored a career-high 21 points, making a career-high eight field goals. He added six rebounds, one shy of his career high.
• Desi Sills has scored in double figures in five of the last six games and seven of the last 11. Over that 11-game span he is shooting a team-best 46.3% (25-of-54) from 3-point range. Sills shot 21.3% (16-of-75) from 3-oint range in his first 18 games of the season.
• Jimmy Whitt Jr., had a season-high and SEC career-high six assists.

 

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