Arkansas sophomores shine in win over Robert Morris
BY MATT JONES Associated Press
Friday, December 21, 2012
12/21/12 at 6:06 AM
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Arkansas' heralded class of sophomores stepped up when the Razorbacks needed them most Thursday.
B.J. Young scored a game-high 23 points and Hunter Mickelson added a career-high 16 as Arkansas beat Robert Morris 79-74 at Bud Walton Arena.
Mickelson, the Razorbacks' starting center, sat most of the first half with foul trouble, but made up for his struggled after halftime. He scored 14 points after the intermission, connecting on all six of his field goals.
Mickelson scored 10 points in the first 6:33 of the second half, helping Arkansas (6-4) take the lead for good.
Trailing by four, the Razorbacks used a 20-5 run early in the half to stake their biggest lead. Arkansas hit 67 percent from the field in the second half.
Arkansas had some chances to put distance between itself and the Colonials, but made only 13 of its 26 free throw attempts and committed 26 personal fouls.
Robert Morris (8-5) capitalized on the Razorbacks' mistakes. The Colonials hit 15 of 18 free throw attempts after halftime and pulled within three points on a pair of Lucky Jones' free throws with 2:50 remaining, but never got any closer.
Marshawn Powell's slam dunk with 1:21 remaining extended the Razorbacks' lead to 74-68 after Mike McFadden missed a lay-up on the other end. Powell had 12 points and nine rebounds for Arkansas, and Mardracus Wade added 14 points. The Razorbacks' starters combined to score 65 points.
Arkansas 79, Robert Morris 74
| Robert Morris |
34 |
40 |
- |
74 |
| Arkansas |
35 |
44 |
- |
79 |
Robert Morris (8-5): McFadden 2-5 6-9 10, L. Jones 2-6 3-4 7, V. Jones 1-6 1-2 3, Williams 6-7 0-0 17, Anderson 4-13 5-7 17, Appolon 1-4 2-2 4, Myers-Pate 1-3 4-4 6, Hawkins 0-2 0-2 0, Morgan 0-0 0-2 0, Johnson 3-9 4-4 10. Totals 20-55 25-36 74.
Arkansas (6-4): Mickelson 7-9 2-2 16, Powell 6-11 0-2 12, Madden 0-1 0-0 0, Wade 4-7 4-5 14, Young 9-17 4-8 23, Scott 1-3 1-2 3, Clarke 0-2 1-4 1, Bell 0-1 0-0 0, Gulley 0-1 0-0 0, Haydar 2-2 0-1 5, Williams 2-3 1-2 5, Wagner 0-1 0-0 0, Qualls 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 31-59 13-26 79.
Original Print Headline: Arkansas beats Robert Morris
